VILLANOVA, PA. — The Bulldogs played close battles in the early sets but would eventually fall to Villanova in three sets (23-25, 22-25, 16-25). Cora Taylor led the match with 26 assists while adding five blocks and digs.

Villanova 25-23
Butler flew out the gates with a 4-0 lead led by a service ace from Reese Bates. A block and kill from Grace Boggess helped add to the lead at 8-3. Villanova would then come crawling back to take the lead at 10-9. Another service ace from Bates then helped shift the momentum back in the Bulldogs' favor at 16-14. The two teams would then remain deadlocked until the score reached 23-23 and the Wildcats found another gear to edge out Butler 25-23.

Villanova 25-22
Aesha Vogt's consecutive service aces gave Butler an early 7-5 lead to start Set 2. The Wildcats regained the lead at 10-9 and would slowly lengthen the score to 22-16. The Bulldogs put together a late rally led by two blocks and a kill from Cora Taylor to cut the deficit two one point at 22-21. However, Villanova bounced back scoring three of the next four points to secure the win in Set 2.. 

Villanova 25-16
Butler continued their streak of keeping the set close at the beginning after kills from Boggess and Elise Ward tied the match at 5-5. Butler would keep the match within a point at 9-10 before Villanova would catch fire going on a 7-1 run to take a 17-10 lead. The Wildcats would continue the success eventually closing out the match at 25-16.

Inside The Box Score

• Taylor padded the stats with 26 assists, five blocks, five digs and three kills
• Ward led the team with 12 kills and seven digs
• Alaleh Tolliver collected nine kills and eight digs
• Jersey Loyer reached eight digs with an assist
• Boggess had four kills and four blocks

Up Next 
The Bulldogs will continue the road trip out east next weekend with matches at Providence on Friday, Nov. 1 and UConn on Saturday, Nov. 2.