INDIANAPOLIS — The Bulldogs finally got into the winners column after sweeping Indiana State (25-16, 25-23, 25-21) during the home opener inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. Cora Taylor was incredible in the match earning her second double-double of the season while adding a new career-high six serving aces. 

Butler 25-16
Butler flew out the gates using kills from Abby Maesch and a serving ace from Lauren Evans to take a 6-2 lead. The Bulldogs continued to put on the pressure using a 5-0 run followed by a 4-0 spurt to extend the lead to 21-12. Grace Boggess helped cap off an incredible first set with a kill to take Set 1. Taylor nearly earned a double-double in the set with eight assists and seven digs.

Butler 25-23
The Bulldogs continued to dominate in Set 2 using consecutive 3-0 runs to jump out to a 8-4 lead. Kills from Maesch and Laiya Ebo widened the gap to 17-11. However, the Sycamores responded with a 7-1 run tie the match up at 20-20. Butler then used a kill from Alaleh Tolliver and a serving ace from Taylor to edge out Indiana State 25-23. Maesch tied for a set-high four kills while adding a pair of digs and block.

Butler 25-21
Indiana State began the third set on top after taking an early 6-5 lead. Boggess then went on a rampage scoring the next four points including a pair of kills and blocks to help Butler regain a 9-6 lead. The Bulldogs would hold onto the lead until a late push by Indiana State brought the score back to 19-19. However, Taylor helped Butler flip a switch closing out the match with back-to-back serving aces to complete the sweep.

Stat of the Match: Cora Taylor had many aces up her sleeve Friday night after becoming the first Bulldog to record six serving aces in a match since Bri Lilly reach this mark in 2018 against St. John's. She had more serving aces in this match alone than the team has totaled in three of the last four matches. Taylor also added 26 assists and 10 digs to earn her second double-double of the season.

Inside the Box Score

• Taylor padded the stats amassing 26 assists, 10 digs and six serving aces
• Maesch led the team with 10 kills while adding five digs and three blocking assists
• Evans totaled 10 digs, five assists and a pair of serving aces
• Boggess collected a match-high seven blocking assists along with five kills
• Ebo hit for a match-high .333 with six kills on 12 attacks

Up Next
The Bulldogs will head down I-70 to Terre Haute to complete the home-home series against Indiana State beginning 5PM ET.