Butler propelled into the BIG EAST semifinals after clinching a 4-3 win in South Carolina against Villanova. Mikheil Khmiadashvili clinched the team win with a three-set triumph at No. 3 singles against the Wildcats' Tyler Roth.
 
The Bulldogs, seeded third entering the BIG EAST Tournament, knocked off the sixth-seeded Wildcats in one of four quarterfinal matches Friday morning. Butler is now 16-5 on the season.
 
Villanova got off to a 1-0 start after taking two of the three doubles matches. Mason Dragos and Spencer Lang represented Butler's win at No. 2 doubles. Butler would rebound in singles for a 3-1 lead. Aviv Ben Shabat, Lang and Temilope Adelakun won in straight sets at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively.
 
After Villanova pulled within 3-2 with a win on the second court, the match came down to Khmiadashvili's match on the third court and Ari Gerstein at No. 5 singles. Both matches went to three sets. Gerstein fell in the third set, but Khmiadashvili's performance proved to be the clincher in Butler's win.
 
The Bulldogs will face No. 7 Georgetown in the semifinals Saturday at 9 a.m. The Hoyas upset second-seeded St. John's Friday morning.
 
RESULTS
Butler 4, Villanova 3 
Singles competition
1. Aviv Ben Shabat (BM) def. Luis Miranda (VM) 6-3, 6-1
2. Stefan Suarez (VM) def. Mason Dragos (BM) 7-5, 7-6
3. Mikheil Khmiadashvili (BM) def. Tyler Roth (VM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
4. Spencer Lang (BM) def. Dylan Flanagan (VM) 6-1, 6-0
5. Tommy Dodson (VM) def. Ari Gerstein (BM) 7-6, 4-6, 6-1
6. Temilope Adelakun (BM) def. Alastair Hurry (VM) 6-2, 7-5
 
Doubles competition
1. Luis Miranda/William Elmore (VM) def. Aviv Ben Shabat/Mikheil Khmiadashvil (BM) 6-4
2. Mason Dragos/Spencer Lang (BM) def. Tommy Dodson/Tyler Roth (VM) 6-4
3. Stefan Suarez/Mike Czlonka (VM) def. Temilope Adelakun/Ari Gerstein (BM) 7-5