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INDIANAPOLIS -- The Butler volleyball team will return to action this weekend by competing in the 2021 Chippewa Invitational. Central Michigan will host Butler, Youngstown State and North Dakota, giving BU an opportunity to play three matches over a two-day span. The first test will put Butler up against Youngstown State at 10 AM on Friday. The weekend comes to a close with a noon start vs. North Dakota on Saturday.

Bulldog Bits
- Melody Davidson and Hannah Kelly were named to the 2021 Top Dawg Challenge All-Tournament Team
- Mariah Grunze leads the BIG EAST in total attacks (144) and attacks per set (13.09)
- Jaymeson Kinley ranks third in the BIG EAST in total digs (58) and digs per set (5.27)
- The Bulldogs rank second in the BIG EAST in digs per set (18.09) and team attacks per set (39.7)
- The Bulldogs had eight team blocks vs. Bowling Green, but just seven combined in matches vs. UIC and Indiana
- Butler averages one ace per set; Caroline Cleveland leads the team with four total
- Elana Brueggemann leads Butler with two solo blocks
- Melody Davidson is averaging 3.91 points per set
- Butler's full roster breakdown includes two seniors, one junior, five sophomores and 10 freshmen
- BU has players from Indiana (5), Illinois (3), Texas (2), Florida (2), Tennessee (1), Wisconsin (1), Ohio (1), California (1), Kentucky (1), and Georgia (1)
- Butler will host a second tournament from Sept. 17-18. The Bulldog Brawl field is made up of Milwaukee, Western Michigan and #18 UCLA
- Closest to Home – Grunze's hometown of Waterford, Wis., is 183 miles (straight-line distance) from Mount Pleasant, Mich., but a 342-mile drive. Davidson would have less of a drive from her hometown of Anderson, Ind., at around 281 miles for the fastest route

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE: The Penguins are 1-2 after the first three matches of the 2021 season. They lost 3-0 at home to both Duquesne and Akron before defeating Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday 3-1. Paula Gursching highlighted the action against the Red Flash with 23 kills on 42 attempts. She ended the weekend with 46 kills, more than double of anyone else on the roster.

Butler has never lost to Youngstown State. They own a 24-0 record against the Penguins. The last meeting was a 3-0 sweep in 2015.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Chippewas are 1-2 after opening weekend with a victory at Bradley, but setbacks to DePaul and Southeast Missouri State. Bradley hosted the action in Peoria. Central Michigan got off to a good start with a 3-1 win, but were swept in each match on Saturday. Savannah Thompson was named to the All-Tournament Team. The senior averaged 4.2 kills per set and led the team with four aces.

Central Michigan has won five of the seven meetings against Butler, owning a 5-2 lead in the all-time series. The last meeting came in 2014 with Butler winning 3-0.

SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA: The Fighting Hawks spent the opening weekend in Utah competing against Utah State, Seton Hall and Weber State. They split day one with a 3-1 loss to Utah State followed by a 3-1 win over the Pirates. Weber State would then sweep North Dakota on Saturday.

Saturday's match is the first-ever meeting between Butler and North Dakota.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Madison Friebel and Mariah Grunze each recorded a double-double in the first match of the season. Friebel posted 40 assists and 10 digs. Grunze had 11 kills and 13 digs in her Butler debut.

Grunze's best performance of the weekend followed with 18 kills and 19 digs in the win over UIC. Friebel was impressive with 47 assists and 17 digs.

KINLEY PLAYING WITH CONFIDENCE: Libero Jaymeson Kinley recorded 22 digs in the season opener and 21 in the win over UIC.

Kinley's career-high dig total is 29. She topped 20 or more digs in a match five times during the spring season.

NO TIME OFF: Madison Friebel, Hannah Kelly, Grace Boggess, Melody Davidson, and Mariah Grunze have started in all three matches.

Those five student-athletes along with Jaymeson Kinley and Caroline Cleveland have played in all 11 sets this year.

DAVIDSON DOMINATES: Melody Davidson was terrific against UIC with a season-high 16 kills and two blocks

Davidson hit .300 vs. the Flames. She only had two matches in the spring with a .300 or higher attack percentage.

CLEVELAND IS CLUTCH: Caroline Cleveland recorded three service aces in the opener vs. Bowling Green.

Cleveland matched her career-high total. She had three aces in the spring vs. Indiana State.

INJURY REPORT: Amina Shackelford, Brittany Robinson and Megan Sheridan all missed the last match vs. Indiana due to injury.

Shackelford and Robinson have not seen action yet this season. Robinson led the team in kills during the spring.

SIGNATURE WIN: Butler defeated No. 24 Marquette during the spring season on March 5. The five-set match featured Butler winning the first and fourth sets. In the finale, BU controlled the action by winning 15-7.

BU posted 21 total blocks in that match, just two shy of tying the school record.

UP NEXT: Butler will play three matches over a two-day span next weekend when they participate in the Cal Tournament. The Bears will host Butler, North Dakota State and Nevada. The Bulldogs will play two matches on Friday, followed by one on Saturday vs. Cal.

Butler has never faced California and is 1-0 in the all-time series vs. Nevada. North Dakota State and Butler have only played two times in school history with each program winning one match.