INDIANAPOLIS – Butler posted a 3-2 victory over Indiana State on Thursday night to win their home opener (26-28, 25-13, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10). BU hit .239 as a team and limited the Sycamores to a .191 percentage. They also won at the net with seven total team blocks compared to just four by Indiana State.
 
How It Happened
The first set started out very well for the Bulldogs as they pulled ahead 4-1 early. Both teams would rattle off a couple points and a three-point run from Butler forced an Indiana State timeout at 12-8. The next few points were back and forth, but the Bulldogs kept their lead and forced another timeout at 17-13. After that timeout, the Sycamores really started to fight their way back into the set, eventually tying the action at 20-20 and forcing the first Butler timeout. The rest of the set was as close as it could get, with six more ties after that point. ISU would eventually be able to rattle off the last two points of the set to win it 28-26.
 
The second set was all Bulldogs. Before you knew it Butler was ahead 5-1 and ISU called their first timeout. The closest the Sycamores would get was down by three points at 7-4. Butler was in control in every facet, with three service aces, 12 kills, and just two errors in the set. The 'Dawgs eventually took the second set 25-13.
 
The third set started very close, with both teams exchanging points, until a three-point run from Butler was able to stretch their lead at 8-4. Another three-point run shortly after would force a Sycamore timeout at 12-7. Indiana State would answer back with a couple points at a time, but Butler responded with another three-point run to force another timeout at 16-11. After a little more back and forth, Butler would eventually break it open with a six-point run to take a 24-15 lead. Butler took the third set 25-18.
 
Set four was much closer, Butler quickly got a 4-2 lead, but ISU responded with a four-point run to take a 6-4 lead. The 'Dawgs and Sycamores would trade points back and forth as Butler tried to close the gap. It looked like a Butler comeback as they made it 21-19, but ISU quickly answered back to make it 23-19 and force a Butler timeout. Indiana state would then take the set 25-20, to tie the match at 2-2.
 
The Bulldogs never trailed in the fifth set. Quickly, it was 6-2 Butler and ISU was calling their first timeout. Butler kept the pressure on and pushed it to 10-5 where the Sycamores called their final timeout. The 'Dawgs only gave up two consecutive points once in the set. They won the set 15-10 to get their first win of the season.
 
Stat of The Game
Jaymeson Kinley came up with a match-high 29 digs.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Elana Brueggemann led Butler with 17 kills and posted a .353 attack percentage.
- Melody Davidson helped BU come out on top with 16 kills (.433 attack percentage).
- Brittany Robinson just missed a double-double with 16 kills and eight digs.
- Madison Friebel hit a double-double with 58 assists and 10 digs.
- Caroline Cleveland impacted the action with 16 digs.
- Marisa Guisti led BU with seven blocks while adding four kills.
- Amina Shackelford posted nine kills, three digs and three blocks.
 
What's Next
The Bulldogs head to the road to take on Saint Louis University Tuesday evening. They do not return to Hinkle Fieldhouse until Feb. 20 when they take on Cincinnati.