VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Butler volleyball team fell in three sets to Valparaiso (25-23, 25-17, 25-16) in the opening round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Thursday night in Valpo. The loss ends the season for the Bulldogs (16-16), while the Beacons (23-9) will go on to face Toledo, who won earlier in the day in five sets over Indiana State, on Friday night.
Set 1: Valpo 25-23
The Beacons used a couple of 3-0 runs midway through the set to go up 20-14. From there, the Bulldogs fought back with a 6-0 streak, including kills by
Melody Davidson,
Mariah Grunze and
Amina Shackelford and an ace from
Marissa McKelvey, to tie it at 20. A later Davidson kill followed by an ace from Grunze gave Butler a 22-21 lead, but Valpo took 4 of 5 points to clinch the set. Davidson and Grunze had four kills each, while
Jaymeson Kinley led the defense with seven digs in the opening frame.
Set 2: Valpo 25-17
After Valpo led 5-1 early, the Bulldogs went on a 4-1 run fueled by back-to-back kills from Grunze and McKelvey to get within one. The Beacons subsequently went on a 5-0 run to extend the lead to six at 11-5 and would extend it to as much as 11. Butler fended off four consecutive set points, but Valpo's Bella Ravotto clinched the set with a kill.
Megan Sheridan led the Bulldogs offense with three kills in the second period.
Set 3: Valpo 25-16
After Butler jumped out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to kills from Sheridan and
Destiny Cherry, Valpo would later use a 9-1 run to claim a 13-9 advantage. Sheridan and Cherry would again have a kill each as part of a 4-1 run to help the Bulldogs get back in the set down 14-13, but the Beacons responded with a 7-1 run and would cruise to clinch the set and the match. Cherry had five kills in the final frame to pace the Bulldogs.
Stat of the Match
Valpo outhit Butler .237 to .117.
Inside the Box Score
- Grunze posted 9.5 points on seven kills, three block assists and an ace while adding 10 digs.
- Sheridan had seven kills, eight digs, two blocks and two assists.
- Kinley contributed 15 digs and an assist.
- McKelvey stuffed the stat sheet with 24 assists, six digs, two kills and one ace.
- Davidson finished with five kills, five blocks and two digs in her final college match.
