Indianapolis IN-  Butler defeated the Evansville Purple Aces, 3-1 Friday afternoon in the opening match of the Big Dawg Kickoff.

Bulldog Bites 

• Alaleh Tolliver led the Bulldogs and scored a new career high in kills with 15.   
• Sawyer Jones tallied 12 kills during today's match. That is Jones' new career high for kills in a match.
• Lauren Evans had 19 digs for Butler which led the team. Evan also had 4 assists in the match. 
• Elise Ward had 12 digs and 9 kills during the match for Butler. 
• Kaylee Finnegan led the Dawgs in assists with 44 which is her new career high. 
• Finnegan also picked up 10 digs. 

Set 1 Butler (25-23)

The first set saw Evansville start fast, building themselves an early 5-2 lead. Butler was able to find their rhythm thanks to some early set kills from Sawyer Jones and Elise Ward. The two sides went back and forth until Butler was able to put together a 4-0 run to put themselves in front 13-11 courtesy of kills from Ellery Rees, Zoe McDonald, and Alaleh Tolliver. Late in the set Butler found themselves down 20-18. A Tolliver kill followed by an Evansville error found the two squads tied at 20. Two more Tolliver kills and kills from McDonald and Jones helped the Dawgs pull away and take set 1 25-23. 

Set 2 Butler (25-18)

The Dawgs controlled the second set beginning to end. Butler started strong and found themselves ahead 7-4 early in the set. More kills from Zoe McDonald and Alaleh Tolliver as well as a couple errors from the Purple Aces allowed Butler to lead 12-6 halfway through the set. Butler remained in control throughout the set. Zoe McDonald clinched the set for the Dawgs with her third kill of the set. Butler took set 2 25-18. 

Set 3 Evansville (25-21)

A back and forth 3rd set saw Evansville take control late and steal the set 25-21. The set started with Alaleh Tolliver scoring back to back service aces giving the Dawgs an early 2-0 lead. The Purple Aces and Bulldogs traded blows throughout the set. The end of the set saw Evansville grab 3 straight points to build a late lead. The Dawgs were able to fight off one set point, but Evansville ultimately won the set 25-21. 

Set 4 Butler (25-23)

The beginning of set 4 saw the teams trade points. The Purple Aces were able to build a 13-10 lead. Butler was able to get the set back to even at 15 points a piece thanks to a Sawyer Jones kill. The later portion of set 4 found the teams tied at 23, where Butler was able to win the final two points clinching the match. A Carly Slusser kill and Aesha Vogt service ace clinched the match for the Bulldogs. 

Up Next 

Butler is right back in action tonight at 7pm ET. They will take on Purdue Fort Wayne at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tomorrow, the Dawgs play Middle Tennessee State at 5pm ET at Hinkle.