Butler takes 3-1 victory
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman Hinsley Everett led the University of Evansville volleyball team with 11 kills in her debut as Butler took Friday’s opener of the Butler Big Dawg Kickoff inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Everett added six digs and two service aces. Chloe Cline recorded 10 kills to go along with a team-high six blocks while McKenzie Laubach finished with eight kills. Ainoah Cruz led the Aces with 22 digs while Kendall Agler had 10. Kora Ruff led the way with 36 assists. Butler was led by Aaleh Tolliver’s 15 kills.
Game 1 – Butler 25, UE 23
Evansville jumped out to a 3-0 lead out of the gate. Carlotta Pascual Centelles opened with a kill while Everett registered an ace. UE continued to hold the lead at 5-2 before the Bulldogs utilized a Tolliver kill to get within one at 6-5. Another kill by Pascual Centelles saw UE go up 9-7 before Butler scored a pair to tie the set at 9-9.
After UE retook an 11-9 lead, the Bulldogs made their move scoring four in a row to take their first lead at 13-11. Evansville forced multiple ties leading to an 18-18 score. Two errors by BU put the Aces back in front at 20-18, but another run by Butler saw them rally for the 25-23 win.
Game 2 – Butler 25, UE 18
Following their victory in game one, the Bulldogs opened the second set on a 3-1 run before extending the lead to 13-7. UE refused to give up as two kills from Laubach highlighted 5-2 run that made it a 15-12 game. Unfortunately, Butler fended off the challenge and pulled away to take the set by a final of 25-18.
Game 3 – UE 25, Butler 21
Another quick start saw BU open a 3-1 lead before a kill by Ryan Scheu knotted the score for the first time at 6-6. With the set tied at 9-9, a kill from Cline gave UE its first advantage. After the Bulldogs tied it back up at 10-10, the Aces scored the next two points and would pull away to take the set.
A block from Ruff and Cline solidified a 12-10 advantage while the lead reached three (18-15) on a Scheu kill. The Bulldogs cut the deficit down to a pair before the Aces finished strong with a Laubach kill clinching the set.
Game 4 – Butler 25, UE 23
Maddie Hawkins recorded a service ace that put Evansville in front at 7-5 while a spurt in the middle of the set pushed the lead to 13-10 with Josdarilee Caraballo picking up a kill. Butler fought back to tie the game at 14-14.
An ace from Ruff put the lead back in UE’s hands at 17-16, but the Bulldogs scored the next three points to take the lead for good as they clinched the match with a 25-23 decision. Evansville faces Middle Tennessee State at 9 a.m. CST on Saturday before facing Purdue Fort Wayne at 1 p.m. CST.
