The Butler volleyball team will continue their road trip out east with matches on Friday at Providence followed by another tough battle against UConn in Storrs. CT.

Bulldog Bits

• Butler currently ranks eighth in the BIG EAST with a 3-7 record
• The Bulldogs lost both matches last weekend in three sets at St. John's and Villanova
• Grace Boggess ranks fourth in the conference with an average of 1.04 blocks per set
• Boggess is just eight kills away from 400 career kills
• Abby Maesch sits at eighth in the BIG EAST with an average of 3.38 kills per set
• Maesch is just three kills away from 500 career kills
• Cora Taylor moved up to seventh all-time on Butler's career total assist leader list after reaching her 2,804 career assists
• Taylor currently ranks in the top three on the team in four different categories including assists (1st), service aces (2nd), digs (3rd), and blocks (3rd)
• After earning the win earlier this season, Butler now holds a 20-0 all-time record against Providence
• UConn leads the Bulldogs all-time with a 4-3 record after earning the win at Hinkle Fieldhouse earlier this season
• Butler has only won one match in Storrs. CT, which was a 3-0 victory in 2021

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars are currently still in search of their first BIG EAST conference win holding a 0-10 record and 7-14 overall record. Providence had a solid non-conference schedule with wins over Sienna and Brown. They also were able to take a set from Iowa in their first match of the season. However, since the BIG EAST conference play has started, Providence has struggled losing 10 straight. They have played in some close matches forcing Villanova and Seton Hall to five sets.

Shaliyah Rhoden has quietly been putting up a solid season with 241 total kills (2.87 per set). While the Friars rank 10th or below in kills, assists, digs, and blocks this season, they have found success at the service line ranking fourth at 1.58 per set.

SCOUTING UCONN
The Huskies have had an incredible run this season ranking fourth in the conference and tying with Creighton for the most overall wins this season in the BIG EAST at 19-4. UConn entered the conference play red hot with an undefeated 13-0 record. They hit a speed bump against Creighton and Marquette, losing consecutive games before winning their next six matches. The Huskies had a tough week last week losing to both DePaul and Xavier, but have since bounced back with a win on Wednesday over Providence.

Emma Werkmeister has broken out this season ranking second in the conference with 3.93 kills per set while also leading the conference with an average of 0.70 service aces per set. The Bulldogs will have to be on their A-game in service receive as the Huskies lead the conference with an average of 1.99 service aces per set this season.

PREVIOUS MATCHUP - OCT.11 VS UCONN
The Bulldogs were swept by UConn in their first matchup of the season in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Werkmerister did not play in the match against Butler, but the Huskies still hit for .388 as a team while holding BU to a hitting percentage of .039.

Abby Maesch tied for a match-high 11 kills and set a new career-high with three serving aces in the match.

PREVIOUS MATCHUP - OCT. 13 VS PROVIDENCE
The Bulldogs got their first conference win of the season against the Friars two weeks ago after winning in four sets at home. The Bulldogs dominated Providence tallying 13 serving aces in the match while holding the Friars to just three. This was just the fourth time the Bulldogs have tallied 13 or more service aces in a match since 2014.

Seven different Bulldogs had at least one serving ace in the match. Reese Bates led the team with four while Elise Ward, Alaleh Tolliver, and Grace Boggess each added two more.

ALL-AROUND CORA
Setter Cora Taylor had a well-rounded weekend padding the stat sheet in multiple categories. On Friday, the junior led the team with 19 digs and six digs. The next day, she racked up 26 assists while leading the team with five blocks.

Taylor currently ranks in the top three on the team in four different categories including assists (1st), service aces (2nd), digs (3rd) and blocks (3rd).

DAWGS ON THE RANKINGS
Grace Boggess is the highest-ranked Bulldog in the BIG EAST, ranking fourth with an average of 1.04 blocks per set. Cora Taylor also sits at seventh in the BIG EAST while Abby Maesch's average of 3.38 ranks eighth.

Reese Bates has also reached the standings ranking 10th with an average of .39 service aces per set in conference matches this season.

UPCOMING CAREER MILESTONES
Cora Taylor moved up to seventh all-time on Butler's career total assist leader list after recording her 2,800th career assist. Lauren Evans needs just nine digs to reach 200 career digs and Laiya Ebo is one block away from 50 career blocks.

Grace Boggess is just eight kills away from 400 career kills while Abby Maesch is just three kills away from 500 career kills.

WATCH: Bulldog fans can or tune into the live streams on FloSports for both Friday and Saturday's matches. Both links to the streams can be found on the Butler Athletics website.

UP NEXT: Butler will prepare for some tough matchups, hosting Marquette in Hinkle Fieldhouse before then heading west to face Creighton.

The Bulldogs will host the Golden Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 PM before heading to Omaha, Neb. to face the Blue Jays on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 PM.