FAYETTESVILLE – Butler won the first set against Northwestern on Saturday afternoon, but the Wildcats would respond with three-straight for their seventh win of the regular season (23-25, 26-24, 27-25, 25-13). Butler will end the Arkansas Classic later tonight with a match vs. Buffalo.
The Bulldogs made life difficult for the Wildcats at the net by recording 18.5 team blocks.
Melody Davidson led the way with 10,
Natalie Ravenell posted eight and
Bri Lilly was in the box score with seven.
The BU defense kept the first three sets of the match close with
Elizabeth LaBue recording 20 digs. Ravenell was second on the team with 12. The sophomore outside hitter added a team-high 11 kills to post the first double-double of the season for BU.
Additional offense was supplied by
Brooke Gregory with 10 kills,
Bri Lilly with eight and
Melody Davidson with eight.
Maddie Freiwald would once again set up the action as the team's starting setter. She ended the match with 34 assists four kills, eight digs and two blocks.
Northwestern used two different setters in Britt Bommer and Kiara McNulty. They combined for 50 assists and 18 digs. Their primary target was outside hitter Nia Robinson who led all players with 20 kills.
Set one heated up in crunch time with Butler hanging onto a one-point lead. The 'Dawgs scored three-straight points after a timeout to take a commanding 24-20 lead. Northwestern responded with three-straight which forced a BU timeout. The 'Dawgs regrouped and won the opener 25-23 after a kill from Ravenell.
Northwestern would jump out in front 5-2 in the opening stages of set two. Butler tied the game at 6-6, but a second Northwestern run would move the scoreboard to 10-6. Butler battled all the way back to tie the set at 24-24, but the Wildcats would pull even with a 26-24 win.
Set three was more of the same with the Wildcats going up 4-0. Butler once again tied the contest at 6-6 and this time the 'Dawgs would hold the slim lead heading into the final stages.
Butler lost a 21-16 lead, which turned into a 24-22 Northwestern advantage. Butler tied the set at 24-24, but Northwestern would win the pivotal set 27-25.
Momentum remained with Northwestern in the fourth and final set. The Wildcats finished off the Bulldogs 25-13.
