The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead but couldn't close the door as host Xavier took a five-set comeback win Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati.
The Musketeers won the match by a score of 21-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 15-11
With the result, Butler is now 7-9 (1-3 BIG EAST) on the season, while Xavier improves to 10-4 and 3-1 in BIG EAST play.
STAT OF THE MATCH: Libero
Jaymeson Kinley's 42 digs are a career-high and the second-most in a single match by a Butler player in program history (45 by Jessica Taylor vs. UIC, Sept. 12, 1989)
SET 1: Butler 25-21
The Bulldogs never trailed again after taking an early 8-7 lead. Butler took advantage of six service errors in the set by the home team, while
Amina Shackelford led the Bulldogs with four kills in the frame.
SET 2: Butler 26-24
The set featured 12 ties and four lead changes. The last lead change came as Butler used a 6-1 closing run to turn a 23-20 deficit into a 26-24 victory. Butler had five blocks in the set, while utilizing four kills apiece from Shackelford,
Megan Sheridan and Maris Guisti.
SET 3: Xavier 25-21
This time it was Xavier that closed strong as a 19-19 scored turned into a 25-21 Musketeers win, avoiding the Butler sweep. Shackelford's six kills were not enough as Xavier hit .224 in the game. Brooklyn Cink led the Musketeers with five kills.
SET 4: Xavier 25-19
Butler looked in control and had the match within their sights with an 18-15 lead midway through the fourth set. Xavier took the next eight points for a 23-18 advantage and eventually pushed the match to a decisive fifth set. Five Xavier players had multiple kills in the frame, while Butler leaned on Grunze (five kills) and Sheridan (four).
SET 5: Xavier 15-11
A late 6-1 surge by Xavier turned a 7-7 tie into 13-8 lead and ultimately a match win. The Musketeers hit .281 in the final set with only one attack error.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Amina Shackelford led the Bulldogs with 18 kills.
- The Bulldogs had a 14-7 advantage in blocks.
- Both Mariah Grunze (14 kills, 11 digs) and Cora Taylor (47 assists, 15 digs) posted double-doubles for the Bulldogs.
- Megan Sheridan also had 14 kills for the Bulldogs, while Maddie Renn made 13 digs.
- Butler hit .151 in the match compared to .188 for Xavier.
- Marisa Guisti had one solo block and seven block assists. Shackelford and Autumn Flowers were each part of five blocks.
- Xavier had three players register 20 or more digs, and five with 15 or more. Libero Lucia Corsaro had 28.
- Brooklyn Cink led Xavier with 18 kills.
- Xavier had six service errors in the first set and then just a total of four more over the final four games.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs open the home portion of the BIG EAST schedule with matches at Hinkle against Georgetown Friday (6 p.m.) and Villanova Sunday (1 p.m.). Both matches will be streamed on FloSports.
