Cards in the Pros

We haven’t yet done a “Cards in the Pros” rundown here on Wide Net Cards, and with an announcement today, it seems like a fine time to do that.

Let’s start off with alumnae playing outside of the US.

Sofia Maldonado Diaz was, alas, only with the Cards for a single year, playing right side in the fall through the Final Four run. She’s currently playing for CSO Voluntari in Romania. They list her as an outside hitter instead of an opposite, reinforcing what we here in Louisville quickly came to understand, that she can play anywhere on the court.

Raquel Lázaro, who joined the Cards as a setter for two years (2022, and 2023), is playing, as a setter, naturally, for Béziers Angels, in Béziers France, which is very near the Mediterranean coast.

To bring it back to the states, Amber Stivrins played one year with the Cards as a solid backup outside hitter. She’s playing for LOVB Omaha alongside her sister, standout Nebraska Middle Blocker Lauren Stivrins.

Still in LOVB, we get one of our two-for-one deals as we find Claire Chaussee and Anna “Stevie” Hall nee Stevenson playing for LOVB Madison. That’s basically hometown for Chaussee, a native of Sun Prairie which is a suburb/exurb of Madison. LOVB Madison current sits in 3rd place in the LOVB standings, and if I do my math correctly, will clinch a bye for the Playoffs to be held next week at the KFC Yum! Center with another win out of their two matches still to be competed.

Moving over to the PVF league here in the States, we get another two-for-one deal in Indianapolis. The Indy Ignite drafted UofL stars from this fall Anna DeBeer and Elena Scott. DeBeer took some time rehabing her ankle injury from the NCAA SemiFinals, but once she got back into playing form, she has picked up for the Ignite where she left off for the Cards. It took Scott part of the season before she claimed the starting position from Indy native Kylie Murr, but, again, once she did, there’s been no looking back.

Cruising down I-70 east we arrive in Columbus for our last two-for-one deal. Two Cardinal standout setters, Tori Stringer nee Dilfer, and Wilma Rivera are battling it out for the starting setter spot for the Columbus Fury. Columbus had, frankly, a terrible start to the season, losing their first seven matches played. It started looking up a little bit after that, though it’s not exactly a great situation there. Currently in last place, they’re sporting a 5-15 record for the season.

Out west, Charitie Luper is playing for the Vegas Thrill after her year with the Cards. The Thrill is not exactly tearing the league up, but they’re about mid-pack in the league standings, with a record of 8-11.

The San Diego Mojo were set, before the season started, to have Erin Fairs on their squad, but prior to the season starting she decided to hang up the kneepads and begin her career in coaching, getting hired as an Assistant Coach for her hometown Rice Owls.

Lastly in the PVF, we come to the player who’s announcement today spurred this post. Aiko Jones joined the Atlanta Vibe as a right side hitter. Primarly coming off the bench in the early season, she has, in the past handful of matches, dramatically increased her playing time, along with her kills and blocks stats. After her season playing for the Vibe concludes, Jones, it was announced today, will return to Louisville to be an Assistant Coach for the Bellarmine Knights.

I hope you’ll join me in continuing to cheer for these Forever Cards as they play, coach, and otherwise pursue their professional lives.