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INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler volleyball team won the first set on Friday night, but would ultimately be defeated 3-1 by Bowling Green at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The 'Dawgs were without Brittany Robinson and Amina Shackelford in the setback. Senior Melody Davidson and freshman Mariah Grunze would set up offensively in their absence.
 
Set One
Butler grabbed a 5-2 lead early, but a 3-0 BGSU scoring run would tie the contest at 7-7. Each side doubled their scoring total to move the match to 14-14, but another 3-0 run by the Falcons would give the visitors a 17-15 lead and force BU to call timeout.
 
Butler erased the deficit and tied the action at 21-21 after a 3-0 scoring run. That scoring spree would grow to 5-0 giving the 'Dawgs a 23-21 edge and force BGSU into a timeout. The Falcons scored out of the stoppage, but the two teams would exchange points the rest of the way leading to Butler's 25-23 win. Katelyn Meyer was excellent for BGSU in the opener she recorded seven of her team's first 10 kills of the night. Melody Davidson led BU with five kills and Grace Boggess would be credited with the set-winner.
 
Set Two
Bowling Green broke a 3-3 tie with a 4-0 scoring run to take control of the action. BU burned their first timeout trailing 12-6, but would climb back within three points at 16-13. The Falcons got to 20 points first, and the 'Dawgs would stop the action with their second timeout facing a six-point differential. Bowling Green hit .385 in the second set to win 25-18 and tie the match at 1-1.
 
Set Three
The Bulldogs scored four-straight points to earn an 8-5 advantage. Moments later, the Dawg Pound got up and got loud to help BU secure a 12-8 lead which led to a Falcon timeout. Davidson gave Butler the four-point advantage and in doing so collected her 10th kill of the match.
 
The stoppage however helped BGSU get back in the game. They scored four-straight to knot the scoreboard and would push forward to own a 14-12 lead. The visitor lead doubled at 20-16, but the 'Dawgs kept fighting. A great rally got BU back within two at 21-19 and Bowling Green would head to the sideline to talk it over.
 
Petra Indrova scored out of the break and would get another kill off a feed from Hanna Laube to make the score 23-21. Melody Davidson and Mariah Grunze came together to block Indrova to get BU within one, and Grace Boggess tied the action at 23-23 with a kill. Katrin Trebichavska got the Falcons to match point, but Indrova was the difference in this one and her ace would give BGSU a 2-1 lead.
 
Set Four
Caroline Cleveland recorded back-to-back service aces to give BU a 5-1 lead. Grunze then quickly got involved with a kill forcing the Falcons to use a timeout. BU's advantage would move to 9-1 before an Indrova kill. BGSU wouldn't go away and Indrova would get the Falcons back within one at 14-13. A Bowlng Green blocked tied the set and a kill from Trebichavska gave the away team the lead.
 
In the end, an 11-1 BGSU scoring run gave the Falcons a 21-15 lead and put them in position to capture a 3-1 victory at Hinkle Fieldhouse to even their overall record at 1-1.
 
Stat of the Match
Jaymeson Kinley was all over the court for Butler and ended the match with 22 digs.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Madison Friebel notched a double-double with 40 assists and 10 digs
- Mariah Grunze posted a double-double in her debut with 11 kills and 13 digs
- Melody Davidson paced the offense with a team-best 13 kills while adding six blocks
- Caroline Cleveland led BU with three service aces
- Grace Boggess provided BU with nine kills
- There were 22 ties and nine lead changes
 
Up Next
Butler will play two matches tomorrow at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Day two of the 2021 Top Dawg Challenge will feature Butler hosting UIC at 10 AM. The nightcap will put Butler up against Indiana at 6 PM.