When the Bulldogs host Duke tonight in the opening match of the Butler Invitational, the team will put its undefeated 2026 home record on the line; that undefeated record at Hinkle Fieldhouse has come on the team's new Taraflex court.
 
The Taraflex court became a reality for the program earlier this month through the generosity of a committed group of donors, most notably Nancy and Dr. Dennis '71 Lawton, whose lead gift championed the project.
 
"My love for the Bulldogs dates back to my parents, Homer and Doris Huesing, and the value they put on a Butler education," said Nancy Lawton. "Butler has provided wonderful experiences for so many students and their families, and those experiences have been incredibly enjoyable for me, Denny and our son Ben. Our family is proud to support the university and these amazing student-athletes and coaches by providing them with a true home court for their matches in Hinkle Fieldhouse."
 
 "A Taraflex court has been a goal for our program over the last few years as we have prioritized ways to elevate Butler Volleyball," said Butler volleyball coach Kyle Shondell. "So many shared our vision and have generously supported this initiative, spearheaded by Nancy and Denny. When we surprised the team with our new court, it was amazing for Nancy and Denny to be there with us and to experience the true joy and appreciation from our team. We are proud that the Lawton Family name will be on the Butler Volleyball court for years to come."
 
"We are so grateful for the tremendous support around our Butler Volleyball program," said Butler Vice President and Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker. "So many individuals and families are helping us create even greater experiences for our student-athletes and that support on this project was led by the Lawton Family. Nancy and Denny have generously and consistently supported Butler and many of our programs for years. They love Butler and we are incredibly appreciative of both the time and treasure they have given to so many Bulldogs over the years."
 
The Lawtons have a long family history at Butler, beginning with Nancy's mother Doris who was a 1941 graduate. In her honor, the couple established the Doris Huesing Barrett and Dennis and Nancy H. Lawton Endowed Fund for Men's Basketball in 2010. The fund provides support for the team's area of greatest need as determined by the head coach.
 
In 2014, the couple established the Lawton Family Scholarship for Men's Basketball, which is awarded annually to a scholarship student-athlete. In recognition of the couple's generosity as part of a capital campaign in 2019, the Strength and Conditioning Room in Hinkle Fieldhouse was named for the family.