Butler will head to Clemson University for the Big Orange Bash this weekend. These will be the first three regular-season matches for the Bulldogs.
Friday, Aug. 28 - vs. Western Carolina at 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, Aug. 29 - at host Clemson at 5 p.m. ET
Sunday, Aug. 30 - vs. Charleston Southern at Noon ET
Butler Recently
- Butler opened the season with exhibition matches at No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 9 Purdue.
Bulldogs Bits
- The Bulldogs have 11 returners this season to pair with five freshmen and two transfer students.
- Head Coach Kyle Shondell enters his fourth season at Butler. He believes "this season has the potential to be the biggest step we've taken yet"
- Returning for her senior season is Elise Ward, who earned Preseason All-BIG EAST honors in a vote of the league's coaches. Ward was second in 2025 in kills with 308 after leading the Bulldogs in the statistical category during the 2024 season.
- Senior Sawyer Jones also returns for the Bulldogs after finishing third on the team in kills (199) during the 2025 campaign.
Scouting Western Carolina
Butler will face Western Carolina as its first regular-season opponent in 2026. The Catamounts finished 8-21 overall in 2025, including a 3-13 record in the Southern Conference. Sophomore Tatum Sharp led the team with 252 kills, while senior Katie Boney recorded a team-high 1,066 assists.
Scouting Clemson
The Tigers finished 18-14 overall in 2025, including a 6-14 record in ACC play. Most of the team leaders from the 2025 season graduated, so fans can expect to see new faces on the floor for the Tigers. Katherine Sandt recorded a team-high 1,098 assists and is returning for her senior season.
Scouting Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern finished 16-13 overall last season, including an 8-6 record in the Big South Conference. Junior Tristin Sutton recorded a team-high 557 assists, and junior Emma Bednarek led the Buccaneers with 99 blocks.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will open the home portion of their 2026 schedule with the Indy Invite Sept. 3-5. The three-match weekend begins Thursday against Youngstown State, followed by matches against Akron and Ohio.
