Butler got out to a strong start Saturday night, but couldn't hold off a Missouri comeback as the visiting Tigers took a four-set decision at the Bulldog Brawl at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Missouri won the match by a score of 22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-14.

With the result, Butler is now 6-5 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 6-3.
 
SET 1: Butler 25-22
A quick burst by the Bulldogs midway through the opening set extended the Butler lead from 12-11 to 17-12. The lead would grow to as many as seven points later in the set. Grunze had eight kills in the opening frame, while Butler held the visitors to an .087 hitting percentage.

SET 2: Missouri 25-15
A 5-1 run extended the Tigers' advantage to 13-7 and Missouri never looked back in the set. Missouri hit .407 in leveling the match at a set apiece. Kaylee Cox had five kills, a number that was matched by Grunze on the Butler side. Grunze had five of Butler's six kills in the set.

SET 3: Missouri 25-22
The set was tied on 10 separate occasions, with the last one coming at 21-21. Missouri won four of the set's final five points. The teams hit .143 and .140, respectively, in the evenly-matched frame, while four Butler blocks kept the Bulldogs within reach. Cox had nine putdowns for the Tigers in the set, a performance that proved to be the difference.
 
SET 4: Missouri 25-14
Missouri took the match with a convincing fourth set. Anna Dixon had six kills for Missouri, which never trailed. The Tiger defense limited Butler to -.020 hitting.

STAT OF THE MATCH: Grunze's team-high 18 kills came on 52 swings. The 18 kills were a season-best for Grunze.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Jaymeson Kinley had a team-best 22 digs, which was her fifth match this season with at least 20 digs.
• Setter Cora Taylor had 28 assists for Butler. Taylor also had 11 digs to register her second career double-double.
• Kaylee Cox had 24 kills on .250 hitting to lead Missouri.
• The Tigers' libero Leandra Mangual-Duran had 29 digs.
• Butler had a 12-9 advantage in blocks. Grace Boggess was part of six blocks, while Marisa Guisti had a hand in five.

UP NEXT: The final day of the Bulldog Brawl is set for Saturday. The nightcap is Butler hosting Central Michigan at 6 p.m. Earlier in the day, the invitational features Missouri vs. Central Michigan (Noon) and Ohio vs. Notre Dame (3 p.m.).