INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler volleyball team beat Eastern Illinois 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19) in its regular season opener on Friday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs relied on both returning stalwarts and newcomers for the win, which was the opening game of the Top Dawg Challenge.

Set 1: Butler 25-22
The Bulldogs got off to a 3-0 lead, which included an opening-point kill from Megan Sheridan. Eastern Illinois clawed back to eventually take an 8-7 lead after a 3-point run of its own. A later ace from freshman Brooklyne Darby gave Butler an 18-17 lead, but the Panthers again fought back to lead 22-21 late in the set. A kill from Sheridan, an ace from Amina Shackelford, and the set-clinching kill from Autumn Flowers were all part of the 4-0 streak to give the Bulldogs the set. Sheridan led Butler with 5 kills and 2 digs, while freshman Cora Taylor tallied 10 assists in the opening frame.

Set 2: Eastern Illinois 25-22
After a 4-0 Eastern Illinois run to begin the set, a later 3-0 streak from the Bulldogs, including a kill from Mariah Grunze and an ace from Jaymeson Kinley, tied it at 5-all. Back-to-back kills by Sheridan and sophomore Jenna Splitt again tied it for Butler, this time at 11-11. From there, the Panthers went on a 5-1 spurt to get separation and would lead the rest of the frame. Kinley (five digs), Maddie Renn (four) and Splitt (three) led the Bulldogs defensively in the second frame.

Set 3: Butler 25-19
Rylie Tam led off the set with a kill for Butler before Eastern Illinois responded with a 4-0. Directly after, Grunze had two kills as part of a 7-0 Bulldog run to give Butler an 8-4 lead. Another kill by Tam and an ace from Marisa Guisti sparked a later 3-0 Butler run to move the host's lead to 14-9. The Panthers came back to tie it at 15-15, but two more Grunze kills were part of a 6-0 Bulldog run, and Butler cruised from there. Grunze's four kills led the Bulldogs on the offensive end, while Kinley's 11 digs led Butler defensively in the third frame.

Set 4: Butler 25-19
Kills from Tam, Grunze and Flowers gave the Bulldogs an early 3-1 lead. A later 3-0 run highlighted by a kill from Sheridan extended the lead to 11-8. Soon after, Butler went on a set-deciding 9-0 spurt, which consisted of two Grunze kills and one by Flowers plus an ace from Tam to make it a commanding 21-11 lead for the Bulldogs, and they would cruise from there. Grunze again led the team with four kills while Kinley added seven digs in the final frame.

Stat of the Match
Butler had 9.0 team blocks to Eastern Illinois' 3.0.

Inside the Box Score
- Grunze posted 14 points on 13 kills and two block assists.
- Kinley contributed 24 digs and an ace.
- Splitt tallied 20 assists, seven digs, three blocks and two kills.
- Sheridan had nine kills, five digs and a block.
- Renn put up 11 digs in her Butler debut.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will take on Oakland on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Hinkle Fieldhouse.