Butler University Athletics

Butler Set to Begin Conference Play Wednesday Night in Cincinnati

9/23/2025 1:33:00 PM | By: Nick Laudano

Wednesday evening Butler will take on Xavier at 6pm ET at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati Ohio.
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Recapping Non Conference Play For Butler
The Dawgs are entering conference play with a record of 7-6. This is the first time since 2017 Butler has entered BIG EAST play with a record above .500. The Dawgs started their season sweeping the Big Dawg Kickoff at Hinkle Fieldhouse. They scored wins over Evansville, Middle Tennessee State, and Purdue Fort Wayne. Alaleh Tolliver was named MVP of the Big Dawg Kickoff. The Dawgs then traveled to compete in the Iowa Invitational as well as the Indiana State Invitational. Combining those invitationals, Butler went 2-4, picking up wins over Loyola Chicago and Indiana State. Last weekend, the Dawgs hosted the Butler Invitational. The Bulldogs won their matches against Oakland and Eastern Michigan, but dropped a five set match to IU Indy. Earlier in the month, Butler welcomed Kyle Shondell's father Dave Shondell and his 14th ranked Purdue Boilermakers to Hinkle Fieldhouse. Purdue left Hinkle with the victory in an extremely close match.

Bulldog Bites

Alaleh Tolliver is second in the conference in kills per set with 4.19 but leads the conference in total kills with 201.
Tolliver also leads the conference in total points
Setter Kaylee Finnegan is second in the BIG EAST in assists per set with 10.22 and leads the conference in total assists with 470.
Kaylee Finnegan was named BIG EAST Setter of the Week on 9/2 after the Dawgs swept the Big Dawg Kickoff.
Zoe McDonald is third in the conference in both blocks per set and total blocks. She has 54 blocks on the season and averages 1.15 a set.
Lauren Evansis third in the BIG EAST in both total digs and digs per set. She has totaled 224, while averaging 4.67 a set.
Elise Ward and Sawyer Jones each scored over 100 kills throughout conference play.
Ward is second on the team in service aces with 19. Tolliver has 21, which leads the Dawgs.
Butler is 1-2 in five set matches.

About Xavier
The Musketeers are entering conference play with an 11-1 record and are undefeated 4-0 in home matches. The 11-1 start for Xavier is their best non conference record in program history. A season ago, Xavier got the best of the Dawgs but in 2023 Butler defeated Xavier in Cincinnati. To start the 2025 season, Emma Grace has led the Musketeers in kills with 154. Junior Macy Hatkevich sets everything up offensively for them, she accounted for 407 assists throughout non conference play. Defensively for X, Margo Kemp leads the team in blocks and Kelsey Niesen leads the squad in digs.

Up Next
Butler will take on #16 ranked Creighton Saturday night at 7pm ET in Omaha Nebraska.

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