HELP GROW THE GAME. ADDIE. HEY RICK. YES, VOLLEYBALL HAS BEEN A POPULAR SPORT HERE IN THIS CITY FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THE EXCITEMENT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW IN RECENT DAYS. In fact, over 21,000 people attended last night’s games here at the KFC YUM! CENTER, AND THAT SET AN NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINAL PARTICIPATION RECORD. Being able to hand out the cards in front of such a large crowd at this facility is amazing and speaks a lot to the type of community we have and the love we have for volleyball. TERRI PERAICA HAS BEEN IN THE VOLLEYBALL SCENE IN LOUISVILLE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, TRAINING CLUB FOR UNION AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR PROVIDENCE. She says the sport has exploded in the city in recent years. I think we have a great club. I think there are several good clubs here that do a great job with their kids and their programming. I also think that high school VOLLEYBALL in the area, both in Southern Indiana and LOUISVILLE, is currently at an elite level and is doing great things across the country. Proof of this are the two local children who get to compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages. ASSUMPTION graduate Anna Debeer and Mercy graduate Elena Scott are both playing for the cards. NOT ONLY THEY ARE ELITE ATHLETES AND SUCH FUN COMPETITORS, BUT THEY ARE AWESOME PEOPLE. ELENA SCOTT WILL COME TO THE UNION GYM, SIGN AUTOGRAPHS, TAKE PHOTOS AND THAT MEAN SO MUCH TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION. BOTH SCOTT AND DEBEER ARE IN THEIR FINAL YEAR IN LOUISVILLE AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING ALL YEAR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THEIR HOMETOWN. IT’S CRAZY. It’s definitely a full circle moment. LOOKING BACK, WE WERE REALLY NOT SURE IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HERE. Like obviously with the program, we really wanted to come here and the fact that we are. IT’S JUST SUPER EXCITING. FINALLY THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE. DEBEER SAYS SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO ADVANCE THE SPORT. IT’S JUST SUPER COOL HOW MUCH THE SPORT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN LOUISVILLE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE, LITTLE GIRLS, SUPPORT US. So it’s a great opportunity every day. LITTLE CHILDREN CAN HAVE A DREAM AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE A VIEW OF THAT DREAM Achieving BY SEEING HOW SOME OF THESE LOCAL CHILDREN RISE IN THE RANKINGS. So you know, they’re just an inspiration. IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE LOCAL KIDS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AND TICKETS REQUIRE THE HOMETOWN SUPPORT ON SUNDAY WHEN THEY FACE PENN STATE, AND TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. LIVE FROM T

UofL volleyball hometown heroes inspire the next generation of stars in Louisville

Updated: December 20, 2024, 7:35 p.m. EST

Reporter/multimedia journalist

As Louisville volleyball seniors Elena Scott and Anna DeBeer prepare to play on the sport’s biggest stage, they’re also inspiring the next generation of great players. DeBeer, a graduate of Assumption High School, and Scott, a graduate of Mercy Academy, decided to play for their hometown team. Now, at the end of their college careers, they have a chance to win a national championship in their hometown. “It’s crazy. It’s definitely a full circle moment. Looking back, we really weren’t sure we could make it here. “Obviously the program really wanted to come here, and the fact that we are is just super exciting,” DeBeer said in a press conference Wednesday. Hometown support was on display in a big way Thursday night as the Cards defeated conference rival Pitt. The game set an NCAA women’s volleyball semifinal attendance record of 21,726 spectators. Local youth coaches like Terri Purichia said it’s significant for the sport of volleyball to have two of Louisville’s own players taking the lead in the Cards’ quest for a national championship. You realize that dream by watching some of these local children advance in their careers. So they are just an inspiration,” Purichia said. Purichia is the club director of Union, a club volleyball organization in Louisville. She is also the head volleyball coach at Providence High School in Southern Indiana. She trained against both DeBeer and Scott: “Not only are they elite athletes and so much fun to watch, they are also fantastic people. The way they present themselves to the entire youth community is just really, really great and worth seeing.” “It’s been great to see them grow into such a role model,” Purichia said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –

As Louisville volleyball seniors Elena Scott and Anna DeBeer prepare to play on the sport’s biggest stage, they’re also inspiring the next generation of great players.

DeBeer, a graduate of Assumption High School, and Scott, a graduate of Mercy Academy, decided to play for their hometown team. Now, at the end of their college careers, they have a chance to win a national championship in their hometown.

“It’s crazy. It’s definitely a full circle moment. Looking back, we really weren’t sure we could make it here. “Obviously the program really wanted to come here, and the fact that we are is just super exciting,” DeBeer said in a press conference Wednesday.

Hometown support was on display in a big way Thursday night as the Cards defeated conference rival Pitt.

The game set a new NCAA semifinal volleyball attendance record with 21,726 spectators.

Local youth coaches like Terri Purichia said having two of Louisville’s own players take the lead in the Cards’ pursuit of a national championship is huge for the game of volleyball.

“Kids can have a dream and they can see how that dream can be achieved when you see some of these local kids rising through the ranks. So they are just an inspiration,” Purichia said.

Purichia is the club director of Union, a club volleyball organization in Louisville. She is also the head volleyball coach at Providence High School in Southern Indiana.

She trained against both DeBeer and Scott.

“Not only are they elite athletes and so much fun to watch, they are also fantastic people. The way they present themselves to the entire youth community is just really, really great and to see them grow into such role models.” “It’s been great,” Purichia said.