December 13, 2024
Clermont’s Nayelis Cabello Shines As Louisville Advances To NCAA Volleyball Elite Eight
By Kyle Coppola
Clermont’s Nayelis Cabello Shines As Louisville Advances To NCAA Volleyball Elite Eight
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nayelis Cabello, a standout setter from Clermont, Florida, showcased her elite skills Thursday night, leading the University of Louisville to a commanding 3-0 victory over Purdue in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Sweet 16. Cabello, a graduate of East Ridge High School in Clermont, delivered a team-high 23 assists, orchestrating a dynamic Cardinals offense that overpowered the Boilermakers in straight sets.
(Nayelis Cabello sets the ball for her teammates. Photo Credit – Louisville Athletics.)
With the win, Louisville advances to the NCAA Elite Eight, where they will face a formidable Stanford team on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The stakes are high, as the Cardinals look to secure a spot in the Final Four with the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd at the KFC Yum! Center in Kentucky.
Cabello, widely regarded as one of the top setters in the nation, has been instrumental in Louisville’s success this season. Her precision, court vision, and leadership have propelled the Cardinals to the brink of volleyball’s biggest stage.
For Cabello this is a dream come true,” said Cabello. Watching her dominate last year in Lake County and seeing her play at this level, is everything we knew she was capable of. She was so dominant last year and you could just tell she was destined for greatness by watching her at the high school level.
(Nayelis Cabello – Photo Credit – Louisville Athletics.)
Nayelis has been the heartbeat for Louisville. Her ability to distribute the ball and make key decisions under pressure has been evident from the moment she hit the floor this year. She has been an instant star. Being just a freshman, she sure doesn’t play like one. But she’s been playing like a veteran for years. Even at East Ridge High School all eyes would be on her. I feel like you could hear a Nayelis Cabello kill shot from the other side of the school. She’s always been able to set her teammates up in the right positions and that’s what makes her such a great setter, one who I believe could one day play on the U.S. Olympic team.
The quarterfinal matchup against Stanford promises to be a thrilling contest, pitting two powerhouse programs against each other. As Louisville eyes its first NCAA Championship, Cabello and her teammates will rely on their collective experience, talent, and the energy of their home crowd to carry them forward.
For Cabello, the journey from Clermont to the national stage is a testament to her dedication and talent. As she prepares to take the court Saturday night, I know there’s a ton of people in Clermont who will be rooting her on!
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
