INDIANAPOLIS – Day one of the 2019 Bulldog Brawl ended with Butler taking a 3-2 loss to Pacific (25-22, 16-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-10). There were 15 ties and seven lead changes in the match.
 
How It Happened
Pacific went on a 9-0 scoring run in the first set to take an 11-5 lead at Butler. The Bulldogs were able to stay in the set with a 5-0 scoring run moments later to get back within two at 13-11. The turning point in the opener came after a Pacific timeout with the Tigers ahead 21-20. Two BU service errors gave the visitors a two-point cushion. Allison Dennemann followed one error with an ace to get Pacific to set point. Action would end on a BU service error 25-22.
 
Butler tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-16 win in set two. A 4-0 scoring run gave the Bulldogs momentum and a 15-10 lead. Pacific would call a timeout trailing the 'Dawgs 18-12 and BU would end the set on a kill from Shay Horn.
 
Pacific would return to the court for set three and grab a 25-15 win to take the 2-1 lead. A 4-0 Tiger scoring run would separate the two clubs giving Pacific an 8-3 edge. Butler never fully recovered from the charge and a second Tiger scoring run would give them a commanding lead at 20-12. An ace by Kennedy Kaminsky would get Pacific to set point and a final kill from Sedona Sherman would send the match to set four.
 
Butler broke a 7-7 tie in set four and would never trail again, pushing the match to five sets. A 5-0 BU run moved the scoreboard to 11-7. The Tigers would fight back at 24-23, but Brooke Gregory would end any chance of a comeback with the set-winning kill off the feed from Megan Ramseyer.
 
A pair of 3-0 scoring runs made the fifth exciting from start to finish. Pacific struck first to earn a 5-2 lead which forced Butler into a timeout. The stoppage helped the 'Dawgs and BU would rattle off three-straight of their own to knot the score at 5-5.
 
The two evenly matched teams would switch sides with Pacific leading 8-5. The Tigers went on a 6-1 scoring run grab an 11-6 edge in the fifth. Butler got back within two at 12-10, but they would fall in the finale 15-10.
 
Key Moment
There were two long rallies in the fifth set and each of those points would go to Pacific. The Tigers won a big point at 10-6 and another at 12-7.
 
Inside the Box Score
Anna Logan impacted the match with 11 kills and 18 digs.
Brooke Gregory posted a team-high 13 kills to go along with seven blocks.
Shay Horn hit .308 with nine kills on 26 attempts.
Megan Ramseyer reached a double-double with 43 assists and 10 digs.
Brittany Robinson hit .312 with seven kills.
 
Stat of the Game
Elizabeth LaBue was all over the floor at Hinkle, collecting a team-best 26 digs.
 
What's Next
Butler will play two matches tomorrow during day two of the Bulldog Brawl. The first match-up will put BU up against Belmont at 12 PM. The 6 PM nightcap will feature Butler hosting LMU.