NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Bulldogs fall in four sets (25-21, 15-25, 23-25, 20-25) against the host Bisons in the final match of the Lipscomb Invitational. 

Butler 25-19

The first set was all Bulldogs as they jumped out to an early 9-4 lead using kills from Elise Ward and serving aces from Cora Taylor and Kaylee Finnegan. A 5-0 run by Lipscomb tied the setup at 9-9, and the two teams would remain within two points until kills from Ward and Grace Boggess brought the lead to 20-16. Butler would hold onto the lead eventually closing it out with a kill by Abby Maesch.

Lipscomb 25-15

Set 2 was different with the Bison hopping in the driver's seat and riding out to a 6-3 lead. Butler would respond by tying the match up at 8-8. Lipscomb would then control the rest of the set, extending their lead out to 17-11 and eventually ending the set with a 4-0 run to win 25-15.

Lipscomb 25-23

The Bulldogs started from behind once again falling 4-0. Kills from Maesch and Ward cut the lead back to within one point at 11-12. Lipscomb would still hold onto the lead and take back control of the set, extending the score to 20-15, but Butler wasn't ready to give up. Blocks from Destiny Cherry and Sawyer Jones helped lead a rally to cut the lead to 23-24, but Lipscomb would then close out the set scoring the match point to take Set 3 25-23. 

Lipscomb 25-20

Ward was dominant to start the fourth set earning three kills and a solo block to help the Bulldogs take a 5-4 lead. Lipscomb would fight back to take the lead at 8-6 before another late push using three straight kills from Maesch to take a 9-8 lead. This would be the last time Butler would hold the lead as the Bison would regain the lead and never look back using a 4-0 run followed by a 5-0 spurt to make the score 17-10. Lipscomb would then close out the match winning with a score of 25-20.

Stat of the Match: Butler's outside hitter was dominant in the match collecting a total of 31 kills and 13 digs in the match. Elise Ward led the game with 17 kills with a hitting percentage of .433 while Abby Maesch added 14 kills.

Inside the Box Score

• Cora Taylor had 26 assists and five digs
• Elise Ward earned a match-high 19 kills with eight digs and three blocks
• Lauren Evans earned a new career-high 19 digs in the match leading all defenders
• Abby Maesch collected 14 kills and five digs
• Kaylee Finnegan added 12 assists and six digs.

Up Next

The Bulldogs will resume play this week at IU Indy on Sept. 4 beginning at 7pm.