Match Notes | Tournament Program

INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs will host a four-team volleyball tournament this weekend inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. Admission for four of the six matches will be free of charge courtesy of ButlerBulldogGear.com. BU will play one match on Friday and come back for two matches on Saturday.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                                                       
- Bri Lilly was named to the 2018 Arkansas Classic All-Tournament Team
- Lilly hit .464 vs. Buffalo last week, collecting a season-high 17 kills on 28 swings 
- Natalie Ravenell has recorded a double-double in back-to-back matches
- Butler recorded a season-high 18.5 team blocks in the setback to Northwestern
- Butler leads the BIG EAST in blocks per set (2.58)
- Melody Davidson leads the BIG EAST in blocks per set (1.17)
- Davidson recorded 10 blocks vs. Northwestern, the highest mark in the BIG EAST
- The Bulldogs recorded a season-high eight service aces vs. Buffalo
- Taylor Takeda leads Butler with eight service aces
- Butler went 3-1 in the Bulldog Brawl last year over opening weekend (Aug. 25-26)
- Butler matches vs. Cleveland State and Santa Clara will stream on Facebook Live
- BU vs. Santa Clara features free admission courtesy of ButlerBulldogGear.com
- Please enter Hinkle Fieldhouse through Gate 1 on Saturday due to the football game
- Parking is available in the Butler parking garage located just west of Hinkle Fieldhouse
 
Scouting Cleveland State                                                                                            
It has been an up and down season for the Vikings who head into the Bulldog Brawl with a 4-5 overall record. CSU won their first three matches of the season before falling at No. 23 Michigan to end the month of August. They head into the weekend on a four-match losing streak after going winless in the second CSU Invite. Cleveland State was picked to win the Horizon League championship for the third consecutive season. They returned four starters from last year's team that won both the regular season and tournament title in the Horizon League. Head Coach Chuck Voss has led the Vikings to nine-straight winning seasons. 
 
Scouting Santa Clara                                                                                      
The Broncos are 4-5 at the start of the 2018 season. Their challenging non-conference schedule includes wins over New Mexico, Sacramento State, Wake Forest and Ohio. They have most recently lost three-straight matches (#4 Nebraska 3-1, Boise State 3-0, and UC Davis 3-2). The Broncos returned 12 players from the 2017 roster, 10 of whom saw the court last season. Michelle Gajdka and Taylor Odom are two impact players that saw lots of action a year ago. Gajdka led the team in kills (361) and Odom tied for the team lead in block assists (97).
 
Scouting Kent State                                                                                       
The Golden Flashes are 6-5 overall after losing two of three last weekend in the La Salle Invite. Rider held off Kent State 3-2 in game one and the Explorers would hold down home court advantage in match two with a 3-0 sweep. Kent State ended on a high-note with a 3-0 sweep over NJIT. The Golden Flashes were picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Head Coach Don Gromala returned eight letterwinners from last year's team that went 5-22 overall. He is relying heavily on seven newcomers to rebuild the program. A freshman leads Kent State in kills, digs, assists and blocks.
 
All-Time Series                                                                                               
Butler holds a large 26-13 lead over Cleveland State in the all-time series. The two clubs have not faced each other since 2011. They split the regular season series, but CSU would win in the tournament 3-2. BU has never faced Santa Clara, but holds a 5-2 lead over Kent State in the all-time series. BU won the last meeting 3-0.
 
Lilly Reaches 400 Total Blocks                                                                   
Senior Bri Lilly recorded 22 blocks last weekend in the Arkansas Classic to move her career total to 402. She is now just five blocks away from breaking into the top-ten of the Butler record book. 20 more blocks this weekend in the Bulldog Brawl would move Lilly to ninth all-time.
 
Up Next                                                                                                                              
BIG EAST action will get underway next weekend with a pair of matches vs. Seton Hall and St. John's. The Pirates will host Butler in South Orange at 7 PM on Friday. Saturday's tilt in Queens features a 4 PM opening serve.