Butler University Athletics

After a pair of wins earlier in the weekend at the Big Orange Bash, included a victory over host Clemson, the Bulldogs dropped a five-set decision to Charleston Southern Sunday afternoon.
 
Bulldogs Jersey Loyer and Sawyer Jones earned All-Tournament Team recognition for their performance over the weekend, which saw all three of Butler's matches go five sets. 
 
Bulldog Bites 

• Jersey Loyer led the squad with 23 digs and six assists, two of those coming in set four.
• Chase Lemming recorded 14 kills, four coming in the first and third sets, along with three digs and three blocks.  
• Maria Nix tallied 13 kills, four of those came in the third set, three blocks, and two digs.  
• Raegan Durbin recorded eight kills, four of those came in the fourth set, 12 digs, and one block. 

 
Set 1 Butler (27-25)
Set one started slowly for the Bulldogs, going down 10-2. However, Sarah Kempf picked apart the defense and found Nix for three kills. That sparked the Bulldog offense, and Kempf continued to find her teammates, connecting with Ragen Durbin, Zoe McDonald, and Lemming for three consecutive kills, which brought the Bulldogs within one point. The Pirates wouldn't let the run go unanswered as they traded points back-and-forth. The Pirates took a commanding three-point lead, giving the potential set-winning point. But the Bulldogs roared back, sparked by Carly Slusser and Sawyer Jones, which brought them within one. Then Slusser and Lemming put the finishing touches on set one with kills to end set one. 
 
Set 2 Charleston Southern (25-20)
The Bulldogs carried the momentum from the end of set one and jumped out to a commanding 7-2 lead courtesy of Kempf connecting with Elise Ward, Lemming, and McDonald for consecutive kills that put the Bulldogs in the lead. However, the Pirates wouldn't jump ship yet; they continued to fight their way back and would take a one-point lead. Jones answered with a kill of her own that tied the set at 12. However, the momentum shifted to the Pirates, and while both teams traded points, the Pirates took a six-point lead. But the Bulldogs would regroup behind kills from Slusser, McDonald, and Durbin. However, it wouldn't be enough to fend off the Pirates, and they took set two.
 
Set 3 Butler (25-23)
The Bulldogs were locked in an intense battle with the Pirates to start set three, trading points back-and-forth. Kills from Karen Dutro and Slusser provided go-ahead points in the early part of the set, but the Pirates responded with points of their own.  Both teams would keep the score close; a kill from Lemming put the Bulldogs up three, but the Pirates would answer and tie the score at 18. But that wouldn't stop the Bulldogs, as a service ace and kill from Marin Thaxton would give them the momentum, and Lemming would finish the set with a kill for the Bulldogs to capture set three.  
 
Set 4 Charleston Southern (25-19)
Just like the beginning of set three, both teams came out in a locked battle with neither taking a clear advantage. The Pirates went on an eight-to-one run. However, multiple service errors by the Pirates, along with kills by Nix and Durbin, would bring the Bulldogs within four. The Bulldogs fought hard to crawl back with a kill by Nix, and service errors from the Pirates brought them within two points. But it wasn't enough, and the Pirates would go on to win set four.
 
Set 5 Charleston Southern (15-12)
The final set started with the Bulldogs winning the first two points, but the Pirates would quickly jump out to a seven-point lead. McDonald stopped the bleeding for the Bulldogs with a block. This sparked some energy for the Bulldogs as Lemming found herself with two kills and Slusser had two huge blocks. Followed by kills from Jones, Durbin, and Slusser to tie the score at eleven, but it wasn't enough, and the Pirates came away with the victory. 
 
Up Next 
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 3, hosting Youngstown State in the first match of the Indy Invite. The weekend at Hinkle Fieldhouse continues for the Bulldogs with matches against both Akron and Ohio.