@ButlerVB Season Preview: Outside and Opposite Hitters

8/24/2023 9:00:00 AM | By: Ethan Polak

The Butler volleyball team boasts a young attacking core at the pins with a former All-BIG EAST Freshman Team selection and four newcomers.

Junior Mariah Grunze returns to serve as Butler's go-to hitter on offense after accumulating a team-high 1,206 attacks last season, which ranked third in the BIG EAST. The former All-BIG EAST Freshman also led the team with 379 kills and 415.5 points. Last season, Grunze also tallied 21 kills against Seton Hall, which was the most in a 3-set match by any player in the conference.

Sophomore Rylie Tam will also rejoin the team with hopes of stepping up into a larger role after generating 20 kills and 40 digs during her first season in a Bulldog uniform.

Abby Maesch, Butler's only transfer this offseason, will return home after spending two seasons at the University of Georgia. The local product from Avon High School brings much-needed experience to the team after appearing in 35 sets last season amassing 73 kills, 19 digs, and 11 aces.

"Abby is a player with high-level skills who plays at max effort all the time," Head Coach Kyle Shondell said. "Wherever that comes from, it will benefit her at Butler."

Sawyer Jones, Laiya Ebo, and Elise Ward are three true freshmen outside hitters who will look to make an immediate impact.

Jones brings versatility to the team as she has experience playing in the middle blocker position. The Berkley, Michigan native was a four-year starter with All-Region and All-Conference honors.

Ebo, a Washington D.C. native, was a four-year starter at Holton-Arms High School. During her club career with Metro Volleyball Club, the 6-1 outside hitter was nominated for 2021 Under Armor All-American honors.

One of the last additions to Coach Shondell's 2023 roster was Ward, who arrived on campus from Orland Park, Ill. The outside hitter was a winner at Marist High School as she helped lead her team to an overall record of 107-23 and four conference championships. She tallied more than 500 kills and was a two-time All-State selection.

"Most pin hitters carry the offensive load for their teams," Shondell added. "We expect ours to be both tough to stop offensively but also to be elite passers and defenders."

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