INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler volleyball team's young talent showed promise, but the Bulldogs fell 3-2 in a five-set heartbreaker to Bradley in their only exhibition of the fall slate on Saturday afternoon in the Efroymson Family Gym at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Freshman setter Cora Taylor led Butler with both 34 assists and 16 digs while adding three aces, three kills and two blocks. The Lawrenceburg, Ind., native played in all but the second set, as fellow setter Jenna Splitt took the reins of the offense during that frame.

The Bulldogs dropped the first two sets before storming back to force a fifth, where Bradley would narrowly prevail.

Sophomore outside hitter Mariah Grunze led the Butler offense with 15 kills while adding four digs and three assists. Megan Sheridan (11 kills, 10 digs) and Amina Shackelford (eight kills, five blocks) both were consistent contributors on offense and defense.

Liberos Jaymeson Kinley (14 digs, three assists) and Maddie Renn (13 digs, two assist, one ace) traded off playing time at libero and defensive specialist.

Butler's first regular season game is Friday at noon against Eastern Illinois at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs will also play Akron and Oakland as part of the season-opening Top Dawg Challenge that weekend.