VILLANOVA, PA — The Butler volleyball team beat Villanova in three sets (26-24 25-18, 25-19) to earn their first conference win of the season. The Bulldogs were locked in on offense and now hold a 7-8 overall record along with a conference record of 1-2. 
 
Set 1: Butler 26-24
The match began in a deadheat with no team taking a significant lead until consecutive kills by Mariah Grunze gave Butler a 7-5. The Wildcats then fought back to tie it at 11-11 and even taking a lead at 18-17 after a 3-0 spurt. Kills by Abby Maesch and Cora Taylor helped the Bulldogs storm back to regain the lead at 20-19 followed by a 3-0 run to reach 24-20. Villanova wasn't ready to give up that easy after a 4-0 spurt tied it at 24-24. Butler then used kills from Destiny Cherry and Grunze to come out on top in the first set.

Set 2: Butler 25-18
The Bulldogs picked up right where they left off flying out to a 4-0 lead using kills from Maesch and Cherry. The Wildcats then came crawling back to tie it at 6-6 and soon take the lead at 12-11. Butler then woke up going on another 4-0 run with the help from Grace Boggess kills to make the score 17-14. Kills from Elise Ward and a serving ace by Taylor helped the Bulldogs pile it on with a 5-0 spurt to take a 23-16 lead and eventually closing out the set 25-18.
 
Set 3: Butler 25-19
Villanova began the set with an early 3-2, but back-to-back 3-0 runs using three kills from Grunze to take an 8-4 lead. A 5-0 spurt helped the Wildcats storm back into the match stealing back the lead at 14-12. Butler then caught fire scoring eight straight points that included kills from Boggess and Ward to burst the score wide open at 24-18. Maesch then put the Wildcats to bed with a kill to clinch the match at 25-19.
 
Stat of the Match
As a team, Butler hit for a season-high .301 percent while holding Villanova to just .146 percent. Destiny Cherry led the match with a .500 percent on six kills and just one error while Mariah Grunze hit for a season high .371 on 14 kills and just one error.

Inside the Box Score

• Taylor padded the stats with a match-high 35 assists, nine digs and a serving ace.
• Grunze cracked the .300 mark for the first time this season with .371 percent while adding 14 kills and five digs.
• Jaymeson Kinley led the match with 14 digs while adding three assists.
• Maesch hit for .310 percent in the match with 12 kills and four digs.
• Cherry earned a match-high .500 hitting percentage on six kills to just one error along with three blocks.
• Ward had seven kills, 10 digs and two blocks in the match.

Up Next 
The Bulldogs will return to Hinkle Fieldhouse next week to host Seton Hall on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and St. John's on Saturday Oct. 7 at 5 p.m.