MATCH NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will play at Marquette on Wednesday before returning to Indianapolis on Saturday to host Xavier. BU will play the Golden Eagles at 7 PM and host the Musketeers at 2 PM. The matches this week mark the midway point of the conference season.
Bulldog Bits
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Rachel Klitzing recorded a season-high 12 kills in the win over Villanova
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Maddie Freiwald posted a season-high 18 digs against the Wildcats
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Elizabeth LaBue recorded a season-high four service aces vs. Villanova
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Melody Davidson hit .778 vs. Nova with seven kills in just nine swings (0 errors)
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Brooke Gregory has hit over .300 in four-straight matches
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Shay Horn was injured during the Georgetown match; no timetable for her return
- Butler has won at least eight conference matches each year since 2013
- Marquette has eliminated Butler from the BIG EAST Tournament twice ('13, '17)
- Butler went 7-1 last year during the month of October; lost at #17 Creighton 3-2
- Five of Butler's six wins this season have been recorded at Hinkle Fieldhouse
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Bri Lilly and
Melody Davidson rank 1-2 in the BIG EAST in blocks per set (1.46/1.24)
- Butler leads the BIG EAST in blocks per set (2.92) and total blocks (201)
- BU ranks seventh in the NCAA in blocks per set; Lilly ranks 14th
BIG EAST Standings
1. Creighton 6-0, 14-4
2. Marquette 5-1, 14-4
3. Georgetown 5-2, 12-7
4. St. John's 4-3, 15-7
5. Villanova 3-4, 10-9
6. Butler 3-4, 6-13
7. Xavier 3-4, 5-13
8. DePaul 2-4, 4-13
9. Providence 1-5, 7-10
10. Seton Hall 1-6, 6-14
Scouting #19 Marquette
The Golden Eagles are nationally-ranked and lead the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.274), assists (13.58), and kills (14.56). The high-powered offense runs through outside hitter Allie Barber, the BIG EAST kills leader (4.47). Head Coach Ryan Theis uses two setters in Lauren Speckman and Sarah Rose. Barber is the top threat, but Jenna Rosenthal, Anna Haak and Hope Werch also impact games averaging over two kills per set. The defense is led by Martha Konovodoff and Rosenthal. Konovodoff ranks third in the league in digs per set and Rosenthal serves as the team leader in blocks with 54. Marquette has only lost four matches this season with all four coming against ranked opponents. They fell 3-1 at #16 Baylor, 3-1 vs. #3 BYU and 3-0 vs. #6 Wisconsin. Their lone BIG EAST loss was a 3-0 setback at #10 Creighton.
Scouting Xavier
The Musketeers are 5-13 overall with a 3-4 mark against conference opponents. Xavier is one of just three teams to average more than two blocks per set as a team, joining Butler and Creighton. Audrey Adams leads the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.388). Adams ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.31). Jayda Carlton ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks per set (1.19). Carlton and
Bri Lilly share the best blocking performance of the season. Both Carlton and Lilly recorded 12 blocks in a five-set match vs. St. John's.
All-Time Series
Marquette leads the all-time series against Butler 11-8. These two programs split the regular season series a year ago with Marquette wining 3-0 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and Butler winning 3-2 at Marquette. The third meeting would come in the BIG EAST Tournament on Nov. 24. Marquette defeated Butler 3-1.
It will be a challenging week for Butler as the 'Dawgs also trail Xavier in the all-time series 19-14. BU swept Xavier last year, taking a 3-1 win in Cincinnati and a 3-0 sweep at home.
Total Team Effort
Butler had four players reach 10+ kills in the 3-1 victory vs. Villanova. It was the first time this season that four Bulldogs have recorded 10+ kills in the same match. BU also hit .302 as a team, the fourth-highest percentage posted this season. The well-rounded effort is impressive considering Butler has played in five matches this year where no player reached a double figure kill total.
'Dawgs vs. Ranked Opponents
Butler is 0-3 this year vs. ranked opponents. They were swept by #20 Pittsburgh and #24 Cal Poly over opening weekend, but took #10 Creighton to all five sets at the end of September. Butler's last win vs. a ranked opponent came during the 2013 season. They defeated #22 Creighton 3-1 on Oct. 4.
Halfway Point
This week marks the halfway point of the BIG EAST season. BU has conference wins over Seton Hall (3-0), Providence (3-0) and Villanova (3-1).
All-Time Best Blocker
Bri Lilly has recorded more block assists than any other player in Butler volleyball history. Lilly broke the school record against Villanova on Oct. 6 when she recorded four block assists against the Wildcats. That effort moved her career total to 415, one more than the previous record holder Krystal Hendrix ('03-'06). Lilly has now reached 100 total blocks during all four of her seasons at BU. She recorded 144 in 2015, 103 in 2016, 121 in 2017 and head to Marquette with 101.
Lilly Continues To Climb BU Record Book
Bri Lilly has posted the sixth-highest block total in Butler volleyball history (469). She passed Chris DeWell ('82-'85) and Krystal Hendrix ('03-'06) last week by recording 13 blocks in matches against DePaul, Georgetown and Villanova. She is now five blocks away from fifth-place all-time. That spot is currently held by Maureen Bamiro ('08-'11) who tallied 473 blocks during her career.
Up Next
Butler will turn the corner in the conference season and hit the road for matches against Providence and #10 Creighton. BU swept the Friars 3-0 on Sept. 29. The Bluejays escaped Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 3-2 win on Sept. 28.
