Box Score
The Butler volleyball team recorded another BIG EAST win tonight by defeating the Villanova Wildcats in five sets (23-25, 28-6, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10). This is Butler's fourth-straight BIG EAST win.

Butler jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the first set, led by two kills each from Brooke Gregory and Bri Lilly. Villanova battled back with a 14-7 scoring run to take the lead at 16-14.  The Bulldogs countered, going on a 4-0 scoring run to take the lead back yet again. After a back and forth battle from 21-21, Villanova took the first set 25-23. Lilly led the attack for the Bulldogs in the first set with five kills on 10 attempts. Gregory was close behind with four kills on seven attempts.

The second set began as a back and forth battle, with a tie score at 5-5. Butler went on a 4-0 scoring run to make it 9-5 with kills by Logan and Lilly leading the way. Villanova countered with a 5-1 scoring run to even the score back up at 10-10.  After evening the score, Villanova took a 12-10 lead, forcing Butler to call their first timeout.

Bulldogs tied the score back up at 15-15 with a kill by Gregory, and after a back and forth battle, the score is tied again at 19-19. Butler went on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 23-21, capped off with a block by Makayla Ferguson. The Wildcats bounce back, evening the score at 24-24.  After a hard-fought set two, Bulldogs win 28-26.

The third set began as a back and forth battle as well. From a tie score at 12-12, Villanova went on a 5-0 scoring run, capped off with an ace by Regan Lough to lead 17-12. A kill by Gregory, service ace from Taylor Takeda, and three kills by Lilly led the comeback for the Bulldogs, closing in on the Wildcats 20-21. A kill by Gregory tied the set at 22-22. Villanova took the final points of the game, winning the set 25-23.

Villanova took an early 6-1 lead in set four, causing Butler to take their first timeout. Villanova continued to control the set, increasing their lead to 8-2.  Strong play by Lilly and Logan led the Bulldogs, but Villanova still led 14-9. After an 8-2 scoring run for the Bulldogs, capped off with a kill by Natalie Ravenell, they took the lead 17-16.  The Bulldogs never relinquished their lead, taking set four 25-21.

After the Bulldogs force set five, they jump out to 4-1 lead, with two kills from Gregory.  Butler maintained their lead to take the fifth and final set 15-10.

Gregory and Lilly led the Bulldogs offensively against the Wildcats. Gregory tallied 19 kills with an attack percentage of .289. Lilly followed with 18 kills and five digs. Both Gregory and Lilly had five blocks. Defensively, Makayla Ferguson posted a double-double with 48 assists and 22 digs.

For the Wildcats, Allie Loitz posted 14 kills and 17 digs, followed by Remy Fairchild with 14 kills and five digs. Defensively, Emma Decker had 48 assists and 17 digs for the Wildcats.

The Bulldogs are back in action Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. against BIG EAST opponent Georgetown.