Queens, N.Y. - The Butler Bulldogs were defeated by the St. John's Red Storm 3-1 on Saturday evening. With the loss, the Bulldogs slide to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in BIG EAST action. The Red Storm improves to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in conference action.
Bulldog Bites
- Jersey Loyer posted 13 digs and three assists.
- Raegan Durbin registered 12 kills, including five in set one. She also posted nine digs.
- Chase Lemming recorded 11 kills, including four in set four.
- Elise Ward tallied 10 kills, including six in set two. She also recorded five blocks.
- Zoe McDonald totaled five kills and eight blocks.
- Ava Hunter posted 27 assists and five digs.
On the Record with Head Coach Kyle Shondell
"Playing out East is always a challenge; it's a bit like playing Cedar Knob in Hoosiers. Playing styles are different, and the things you can't control make winning really hard, but I was pleased with our ability to fight back after intermission. Raegan paced us offensively and I really liked how Karen (Dutro) and Marin (Thaxton) jumped off the bench and immediately made us better. At the end of the day, we weren't good enough to win here; we allowed too many sloppy points and gave away a few too many unforced errors."
Set 1 St. John's (25-18)
St. John's began the match against Butler being aggressive in the early moments of the frame. which put the Red Storm ahead 15-5 at the halfway point of set one. However, the Bulldogs fought back into the set with a 8-3 lead sparked by kills from Lemming and
Maria Nix in the late moments of the frame. Ultimately, it was the Red Storm who'd take set one 25-18.
Set 2 St. John's (25-21)
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 7-1 lead over the Red Storm in the second set behind two kills from both Lemming and Ward. Shortly after St. John's made a run of their own and took a narrow 15-14 edge at the midpoint of the second set. Both teams continued to trade points; however, it was the Red Storm who'd take set two, 25-21.
Set 3 Butler (25-13)
The third set began in similar fashion as Butler jumped out to a 9-4 lead over St. John's that featured kills from Nix and Durbin. The Bulldogs carried that momentum to the halfway mark of the set that found them leading 15-6 behind a kill from
Karen Dutro. Butler strung together a 8-2 run that gave the Bulldogs a commanding 23-8 advantage in the late frame of set three. Butler secured the set victory 25-13 on a kill by McDonald.
Set 4 St. John's (25-20)
The fourth set saw both teams trading points in the early moments of the frame. Butler was able to separate from St. John's and take a narrow 15-13 edge at the midway mark of set four. Butler continued to fight, but St. John's fended off the Bulldogs' comeback and took set four 25-20 and the match.
Up Next
Butler will return home and face Xavier Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Hinkle Fieldhouse. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs will then travel to Omaha, Neb., to face Creighton Friday, Oct. 9, at D.J. Sokol Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Central).
