CHICAGO – Butler lost a tight 3-2 match to Loyola on Friday night (25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-17). In a tight fifth set, Butler could not hold onto the lead and eventually lost 15-17. The Bulldogs are now 0-2 to start the season.
 
How It Happened
The first set was filled with big runs, eight ties, and four lead changes. Butler quickly down 1-3, then pushed to tie it at 3-3. Loyola would answer with a quick four point-run and the Bulldogs found themselves down 3-7. Butler would later answer with a 5-0 run of their own to take the lead at 9-8 and force a Loyola timeout. After another 4-0 run from Loyola, Butler was again trailing by three, at 9-12. There would be a couple ties and points exchanged until another 4-0 from the Ramblers, putting the Bulldogs down 14-18. A push from Butler tied the game at 19-19, but again Loyola quickly rallied some points making it 19-22. However, the Dawgs were not ready to quit as they would get the last six points to win the first set 25-22.
 
Set two was very tight to start with less big runs, up until the media timeout. Butler got out to a 3-1 lead to start, but then the two teams would trade points and were often tied. Loyola would break a 14-14 tie to take a 14-15 lead into the media timeout and did not look back. It was quickly 15-20 for the Ramblers, and the Bulldogs fought to bring it within two at 21-23 and force a Loyola timeout, but the Ramblers went on to win the set 22-25.
 
To start the third set, Loyola jumped out to a quick five-point lead at 2-7. Butler would fight their way back and would eventually tie it up at 11-11. Loyola took back a two-point lead and the teams would exchange points until Butler got back to within one at 19-20. Taking advantage of some Loyola errors, Butler would eventually take a 22-21 lead which turned into a 23-22 lead. But Loyola would get the last three points to win the set 23-25.
 
The Bulldogs responded exactly how they needed to in set four, after falling 2-1 in the match. The Dawgs were in control at the net and would eventually force Loyola to take a timeout with the score at 8-3. The teams traded points until another 3-0 Butler run which made it 14-5, where the Ramblers would take their last timeout of the set. Loyola tried to fight their way back pulling within six at 15-9. The Dawgs would quickly answer with a couple points of their own and Butler would later take their largest lead of the match, leading 21-11. Loyola would answer with a 6-0 run making it 21-17. Butler would end the run with a huge kill from Melody Davidson. The teams would trade points until the Bulldogs eventually won the set 25-20.
 
In set five, Butler jumped out the gate strong, taking a quick 2-0 lead. After exchanging a couple points, the Bulldogs would go on a 3-0 run, growing their lead to 8-4. Butler would force a Loyola timeout at 10-5. The Ramblers would later answer with a 3-0 run of their own to bring it to 11-8. The teams would trade points until it was 14-11, Bulldogs. Loyola answered with two points to make it 14-13 and forcing a Butler timeout. The Ramblers tied it at 14-14, then again at 15-15 and then got the next two points to win the set 15-17.
 
Stat of the Game
Brittany Robinson led the Bulldogs with 20 kills, 14 digs, and four blocks. Her 20 kills were the high of the match and she also had a Butler match high with 58 attacks.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Madison Friebel followed up her performance from this afternoon with a match-high 55 assists.
- Amina Shackelford led the match with a .275 hitting percentage (16 kills on 40 attempts)
- Jaymeson Kinley led the match with 28 digs.
- Melody Davidson led BU with six blocks while also posting 10 kills and three digs.
- The Bulldogs led the Ramblers in kills (65-57) and hitting percentage (.148-.111)
- Eight student-athletes played in all five sets. 

What's Next
The Bulldogs will head to Louisville, Ky. to play Bellarmine on Sunday (Jan. 31) and return to Hinkle on Feb 4.