INDIANAPOLIS — The Bulldogs will welcome UConn and Providence this weekend for two matchups inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Huskies enter with an undefeated non-conference record while the Friars have yet to win a conference match this season.

Bulldog Bits
-The all-time series between Butler and UConn is split at 3-3. The Bulldogs swept the Huskies in the previous matchup at Butler last season
-BU has never lost to Providence holding an impressive 19-0 all-time record. 
-The Bulldogs have only lost one set inside Hinkle Fieldhouse to Providence in program history
-Last weekend, Butler will hope to bounce back after being swept in both matches against the top teams in the conference, No. 6 Creighton and Marquette
-Abby Maesch currently ranks seventh in BIG EAST conference matches this season with an average of 3.43 kills per set
-Maesch led the match with 14 kills against Marquette last Sunday while hitting for .289 with just three errors. 
-Alaleh Tolliver has led the team in kills during four of the last five matches totaling 43 kills (2.86 per set).
-Jersey Loyer still holds the most digs in a match by a BIG EAST defender this season with 28 digs against Grand Canyon (Sep. 14)
-Grace Boggess sits at fifth in the conference with an average of 1.06 blocks per set.
-Cora Taylor ranks sixth in the BIG EAST with an average of 8.54 assists per set this season
-Taylor is just 22 assists from reaching 500 assists this year
-Lauren Evans holds the eighth-best average of 0.32 serving aces per set with 19 total this season
-Elise Ward needs just one more kill to reach 400 career kills
-Laiya Ebo is 21 kills away from 200 career kills

SCOUTING UCONN
The Huskies were the only team in the BIG EAST to finish the non-conference schedule with an undefeated record. The record of 13-0 included five sweeps, five four-set victories, and three five-set wins against teams that included Dartmouth, Youngstown St., and Buffalo. However, once the BIG EAST play began, UConn was swept in both matches against Creighton and Marquette. The Huskies have bounced back since then beating Georgetown and Seton Hall last week to bring their conference record to 2-2.

Emma Werkmeister is the lone Husky with more than 200 kills as she enters the match as the top offensive weapon with 224 kills (3.93 per set) this season. Doga Kutlu also holds a conference-best eight serving aces (0.62 per set) in conference matches this year.

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars join the Bulldogs as the bottom dwellers in the BIG EAST standings as the only two teams still in search of their first conference win. Providence had a winning record in the non-conference play at 7-4 after wins over Brown and Evansville as well as taking a set from Iowa in a 3-1 loss. Since the conference play has started though they have lost the last four straight matches, but nearly stole one from Seton Hall after falling in five sets.

Despite the struggles on offense for the Friars, Kayla Grant has been a bright spot hitting for the third best hitting percentage at .386 with 121 kills this season. Butler will also hope to keep Providence out of system as they have the least amount of assists in the conference.

SERIES DOMINATION
Butler has found success against both UConn and Providence in the program's history. The Bulldogs are tied with the Huskies all-time with a record of 3-3. However, BU has dominated against the Friars winning all 19 matches dating all the way back to 2002.

Butler has only lost one set of nine matches against the Friars while playing inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.

FLASHBACK TO LAST YEAR
The Bulldogs won both matchups in Hinkle Fieldhouse against the Huskies and Friars last season. They first swept UConn on Nov. 10 before knocking off Providence two days later at 3-1. The Bulldogs outplayed the Friars on offense in their game, nearly doubling the number of kills at 62 to just 33.

Abby Maesch and Elise Ward led both matches in kills with Maesch recording a total of 31 kills while Ward was just behind with 28 kills.

GROWING INTO THE NEW ROLE
With the absence of Mariah Grunze, freshman Alaleh Tolliver has stepped up into a larger role at the outsider hitter position. Tolliver has led the team in kills during four of the last five matches totaling 43 kills (2.86 per set).

FINDING HER GROOVE
Abby Maesch found success last week despite playing against the top two teams in the conference in No. 6 Creighton and Marquette. Maesch totaled 22 kills (3.67 per set) in the matches along with 10 total digs. She led the match with 14 kills against Marquette while hitting for .289 with just three errors. 

Maesch currently ranks seventh in BIG EAST conference matches this season with an average of 3.43 kills per set. She also still leads the team with a total of 160 kills (3.27 per set) this season.

CAREER MILESTONES
Lauren Evans earned her 150th career dig last Sunday against Marquette after collecting 15 total digs. Cora Taylor is just 22 assists from reaching 500 assists this season while Grace Boggess is three block assists away from 200 career blocks.

Elise Ward needs just one kill to reach 400 career kills while Laiya Ebo remains 21 kills away from 200 career kills

WATCH: Bulldog fans can purchase tickets to both matches on the Butler Athletics website or tune into the live streams on FloSports on Friday and YouTube on Sunday.

UP NEXT: Butler will play their next two matches of the homestand in Hinkle Fieldhouse against Seton Hall and Georgetown.

The Bulldogs will remain at home to host two matches beginning on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 PM  ET  against Seton Hall followed by a match on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5 PM ET against Georgetown.