PHOENIX, ARIZ. — The Bulldogs came up just short in another hard fought five-set battle (25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 27-29, 7-15) against Grand Canyon at the GCU Classic. Elise Ward had a career night becoming the first Bulldog to record 20 or more kills and digs in a single match since 2021 after reaching 24 kills and 20 digs against GCU.

Butler 25-23
Grand Canyon began the match on top after flying out to a 4-1 lead. The Bulldogs would use a kill and block from Grace Boggess to go on a 4-0 run and take the lead at 13-11. The Antelopes regained the lead again at 16-14 before another rally led by kills from Abby Maesch and blocks from Destiny Cherry to take a 21-18. GCU would bring the score back within a point at 24-23, but a huge block from Boggess and Cora Taylor helped seal the deal in Set 1.

Grand Canyon 25-22
The Bulldogs started from behind again in Set 2 5-8 before going on a 5-0 spurt with the help from kills from Maesch and Elise Ward to make the score 15-12. GCU then went on a 4-0 run to steal the lead back at 17-16 that they would never give up. Butler would keep the score within two points, but couldn't get over the hump as the Antelopes would take the second set 25-22.

Butler 27-25
The intensity picked up in the third set after Butler would use another 5-0 run that included two serving aces from Lauren Evans to an early 8-5 lead. GCU came right back to tie the match at 11-11 and the two teams would remain within a point until the Bulldogs went on another 5-0 spurt to this time led by a kill and block from Boggess to take another 20-17 lead. Four consecutive points from the Antelopes would tie the match back at 25-25. On match point, Boggess and Sawyer Jones combined for an incredible block to help close out the set 27-25.

Grand Canyon 29-27
Kills from Ward gave the Bulldogs a jump start at 4-2 to kick off the fourth set. A kill and block from Cherry helped extend the lead to 9-5. GCU would slowly crawl back into the set eventually tying the score at 20-20. The two teams would remain deadlocked until the Antelopes would take the first lead of the set at 27-26 and then close out the set at 29-27.

Grand Canyon 15-7
The Antelopes came flying out the gate in Set 5 after 5-0 run of their own to take a 8-2 lead. Butler tried to fight back with kills from Boggess and Maesch, but Grand Canyon would soon close out the match at 15-7.

Stat of the Match: Elise Ward had a career night in Phoenix hitting for .304 while tallying a team-high 24 kills and 20 digs. She is the first Bulldog to reach the 20-20 mark since Brittany Robinson collected 22 kills and 20 digs against Xavier in March 2021.

Inside the Box Score

• Ward set new career-highs with 24 kills, 20 digs, and three serving aces in a single match
• Maesch was just behind with 17 kills and eight digs
• Taylor amassed 47 assists with eight digs and four kills
• Jersey Loyer earned a new career-high 28 digs with eight assists
• Boggess led the match with seven blocks while adding nine kills

Up Next
The Bulldogs will look to bounce back in the final match of the GCU Classic against Portland St. tomorrow at 3 PM ET.