Butlers Falls in Five Set Match to Illinois State

Coralville Iowa- Saturday afternoon, Butler fell just short in an incredible 5 set match to Illinois State in their final match of the Iowa State Invitational. Butler's record on the season is now 4-2. The match saw the Redbirds claim the first two sets, including a 34-32 second set. Butler then followed by securing the next two sets forcing a 5th set. In the deceive 5th set Illinois State built an early lead that they were able to hold onto, thus clinching the match.  

Bulldog Bites

• Alaleh Tolliver led Butler in kills with 21.
• Tolliver also tallied 13 digs. 
• Sawyer Jones scored 17 kills for the Dawgs. 
• Lauren Evans led the team in digs with 16. 
• Kaylee Finnegan quarterbacked the Butler offensive once again. She had 55 assists during the match today which is her new career high.  

Set 1 Illinois State (25-17)
The first set saw the Redbirds jump out to a quick start and lead Butler 15-7 midway through the set. Three Sawyer Jones kills in the later stages of the set allowed Butler to make the first set margin eight.  

Set 2 Illinois State (34-32)
Butler and Illinois State traded blow after blow, each fighting off multiple set points in the 2nd set. It started with Zoe McDonald and Sawyer Jones scoring kills helping Butler build a 3-0 lead. After that, the Redbirds were seemingly able to gain control and mount an 18-10 lead, ultimately moving that lead to 24-20, set point. However, the Dawgs responded. McDonald and Jones, each found two kills and then Alaleh Tolliver scored a kill over her own giving Butler set point. This time it was Illinois State's turn to fight off some set points. The Redbirds defended set point 5 different times in the later stages of the set in route to their 34-32 set 2 victory.     

Set 3 Butler (25-20)
After a long second set, Butler was able to respond and win set 3. The teams went back and forth in the early going, a service ace from Kaylee Finnegan tied the set up at 10. About midway through the set, Sawyer Jones knocked a kill tying it up at 15. That kill from Jones sparked a Butler run, Zoe McDonald and Kaylee Finnegan each picked up kills allowing Butler to lead 19-16. A block assist from Elise Ward and Carley Slusser gave the Dawgs set point and then they took advantage of a Redbirds error giving them set 3. 

Set 4 Butler (25-23)
Butler started fast in set 4. Ward, McDonald, and Alaleh Tolliver each landed a kill shot in the early going. Ward and Tolliver each scored points for the Dawgs via service aces at different points in the set. Tollivers was to give Butler a 16-12 lead midway through set 4. The Redbirds rallied late in the set and trailed 23-24 late in the set. Butler fought off the Redbirds rally and an Alaleh Tolliver kill forced a 5th set. 

Set 5 Illinois State (15-12)
The deciding 5th set was a good one for Illinois State, they jumped out to a 5-1 start forcing Butler to call a timeout. After the timeout, Butler worked back and an Elise Ward kill gave the Dawgs an 8-7 lead midway through the deciding set. After that, the Redbirds took control and won the set 15-12, clinching the match.

Up Next 
Butler will welcome Dave Shondell and his Purdue Boilermakers into Hinkle Fieldhouse Tuesday night. The match will begin at 7pm ET.