CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Butler Bulldogs fell to the Xavier Musketeers, 3-2, on Wednesday evening. With the loss, the Bulldogs slid to 11-14 overall and 5-8 in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers improved to 15-9 overall and 8-5 in conference action.
Bulldog Bites
- Ava Hunter posted a season-high 37 assists. She also marked nine digs.
- Jersey Loyer registered 19 digs and eight assists.
- Chase Lemming marked 25 kills, including seven kills in the first set. She also posted four digs.
- Raegan Durbin tallied 19 kills, including eight in the fourth set. She also posted 18 digs, marking her third double-double of the year.
- Karen Dutro totaled 11 kills, tying her career high.
On the Record with Head Coach Kyle Shondell
" I can't stand to lose, but I'm proud of our effort tonight.
Chase Lemming and
Raegan Durbin laid everything they had out there tonight; it was another big night for
Karen Dutro, and I thought
Jersey Loyer was great again. I'm thrilled we're putting ourselves in every one of these matches, but we have to find ways to close them out."
Set 1 Butler (27-25)
Butler began the match by jumping out to an early 12-7 lead driven by consecutive kills from Lemming and kills from both
Zoe McDonald and
Elise Ward. The Musketeers responded with a 4-0 run of their own, but it was the Bulldogs who led 15-12 at the midway point of the first set. Both teams traded points back and forth in the late moments of the set, tying the score at 24-24. The Musketeers went on to score one more point before the Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run to claim the first set.
Set 2 Xavier (25-18)
The Musketeers opened the second set trading points back and forth, tied at 8-8 with the Bulldogs in the early moments of the set. Xavier went on a 7-3 run to put the Musketeers up 15-11 at the halfway point of the second set. Butler continued to pressure Xavier with a 6-3 run behind kills from Durbin, Lemming, and McDonald. However, it wasn't enough, and the Musketeers claimed the second set over the Bulldogs 25-18.
Set 3 Xavier (25-12)
Butler opened the third set trailing Xavier 8-3 in the early moments of the set. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-4 run behind two kills from Durbin, an ace and a kill from Durbin and a kill from
Ellery Rees. Xavier still led 15-10 at the halfway mark of the third set. Butler continued to pressure Xavier in the late moments of the set. Ultimately, the Musketeers took the third set 25-12.
Set 4 Butler (25-23)
Butler began the fourth set jumping out to an early 7-3 lead over Xavier, driven by four consecutive kills from Durbin. The Musketeers quickly responded with a run of their own, but the Bulldogs shut it down for a 4-0 run of their own. However, Xavier still took a narrow 15-14 edge at the midway point of the third set. The Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run behind kills from Dutro, Lemming, and Durbin, which allowed Butler to claim the fourth set.
Set 5 Xavier (15-12)
The Bulldogs opened the fifth set in similar fashion to the previous sets, trading points back and forth with Xavier in the early moments of the set. Butler went on a 4-1 run behind kills from Lemming, which allowed the Bulldogs to tie the set at 8-8. The Musketeers responded with a 3-1 run of their own; however, the Bulldogs answered with a 3-1 run driven by kills from Durbin. However, Xavier went on a 4-2 run to claim set five, 15-12, and the overall match victory.
Up Next
Butler will return home to Hinkle Fieldhouse to host Creighton on Sunday, Nov. 8. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. as the Bulldogs celebrate Senior Day prior to the match.
