CHICAGO – The Butler volleyball team ended a tough road trip on Saturday night by defeating the DePaul Blue Demons 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 15-6). The comeback victory gives Butler 17 wins on the year, including a 9-4 mark against conference opponents.

DePaul put Butler on the ropes early by winning the first two sets of the night despite having only won three matches all season. Saige Gallop sparked DePaul's offensive attack with a match-high 18 kills. Luckily for Butler, four players were able to reach a double figure kill total. Mary Striedl paced the group with 15 while Stephanie Kranda and Belle Obert each chipped in with 14.

Makayla Ferguson was yet another impact performer for Butler as the freshman notched a double-double with 55 assists and 12 digs. Obert also reached the feat by adding 12 digs on the night.

DePaul put up a strong fight in sets one and two to take at 2-0 lead at the break. The opener was knotted at 24-24 after a DePaul service error but the Blue Demons used a Gallop kill to reach set point and a service ace would push them over the top to grab the 1-0 lead.

Set two was also tight down the stretch as the two teams came together at 22-22. Back-to-back attack errors allowed DePaul to reach set point and a kill from Callie Huebener would take the upset-minded Blue Demons on top 2-0.

The Bulldogs were finally able to break out of their slump toward the end of set three as the team used an 8-1 run to earn the 25-18 win. Striedl tied the score at 17-17 with a kill and the Bulldogs caught fire off the serves of Jadyn Yarling and Brooke Ruffolo. Gallop notched one kill during the run, but four Butler service aces would put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard as Butler avoided the sweep with a 25-18 win.

With momentum on their side, Butler jumped out to a 12-5 lead in set four after a kill from Ferguson. A timeout from DePaul wouldn't stop the BU attack as Butler went on to increase their lead to 20-11. Yet another service ace from Yarling would put Butler at set point and Kranda would tie the match at 2-2 with a kill.

Butler was never in danger of losing the fifth set as they dominated the action from start to finish. A 3-0 start to the match would quickly move to a 10-4 lead and Butler would finish off the feisty Blue Demons with an Obert kill at 15-6.

Butler will return to action next weekend with a pair of home matches against BIG EAST competition. The Bulldogs will host the Georgetown Hoyas on Friday, Nov. 7 and end the weekend with a match vs. Creighton on Saturday night.