MILWAUKEE – Butler nearly handed Western Michigan their first loss of the 2019 season, but the Broncos would battle back to win the fifth set and improve to 7-0 (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12). BU will play one more match tonight vs. host Milwaukee and end the Panther Challenge tomorrow with a 1 PM start vs. SEMO.
 
How It Happened
Western Michigan opened up an 8-1 lead in the first set, but the Bulldogs would rattle off four-straight points to get back in the action at 8-5.

BU continued to fight and would tie the opener at 18-18. A 5-0 Butler scoring would move the scoreboard to 23-19 and the 'Dawgs would jump out in front 1-0 with a 25-23 win.
 
Western Michigan would take a 2-1 lead in the match after winning sets two and three. A 9-0 scoring run would take the Broncos to set point in set two and eventually even the game at 1-1. Set three was a thriller that featured Butler scoring three-straight points to get within one point at 22-21. The Broncos regrouped by scoring three of the final four points leading to the 25-22 win.
 
Butler stayed alive with a 25-22 win of their own in the fourth set. Anna Logan went for back-to-back kills late in the action to get BU to set point. The match would move to a decisive fifth set after a Bronco attack error.
 
BU led the fifth set 3-1, but three-straight WMU points would signal the start of a back and forth battle. The two teams switched sides with Western Michigan leading 8-5. BU got within one at 9-8, but a late 3-0 run would favor the Broncos allowing them to record the victory.
 
Key Moment
A 4-0 Western Michigan scoring run in the fifth set gave the Broncos an 8-5 lead. Butler scored three of the next four points, but momentum would shift back to the Broncos after a kill from Melody Davidson. WMU took full control of the match by scoring five of the next six points to come out on top.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Anna Logan led the Bulldogs with 17 kills and 19 digs. It was her fourth double-double of the season.
- Brooke Gregory impacted the match with 12 kills and a team-high eight blocks
- Megan Ramseyer led BU with 47 assists.
- Emma Milstead led the team with two service aces.
 
Stat of the Game
Elizabeth LaBue recorded a career-high 29 digs in the match vs. Western Michigan.
 
What's Next
Butler will play Milwaukee tonight at 8:30 PM. Catch the action live on ESPN+.