DePaul Falls in Close Five Set Battle at Butler

Wednesday, October 2

Indianapolis, Ind.

5:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

9-7

Butler

4-10

DePaul

Butler

DePaul Falls in Close Five Set Battle at Butler

10/2/2019 7:20:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - After not winning a set at Hinkle Fieldhouse since 2013, DePaul claimed the first set but fell to Butler (25-17, 22-25, 21-25, 25-22,12-15) Wednesday evening in Indianapolis. The Blue Demons are 9-7 (1-3 BIG EAST) on the season.

In the intense five set battle, Natalie Hayward saw her fifth double-double of the season with 24 assists and 14 digs.

FROM ZIDEK
" Butler's block continues this year to be the most threatening in the conference," said head coach Marie Zidek. "It let them back in the match in the second set and threw off our rhythm. That said, our team fought so hard to work us into a fifth set and we got a big lead. Their block once again put pressure on us and unfortunately, we were not able to get quality swings to bring us past 12 points. The silver lining is that we get all of these teams again, including Butler. We are so close to our tipping point and I am proud of this group's effort. We just need to get a little closer to executing in pressurized situations."

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET ONE » The first point of the match went to Butler. Bailey Nelson would respond with a kill but the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-1 lead. Regardless of a couple knots in the score, Butler would eventually double DePaul's score at 8-4. A block from the pair of Brittany Maxwell and Donna Brown would knot the score 11-11. The Blue Demons went on a 4-0 run courtesy of kills from Brown and Maxwell, a block from the pair and a Butler error, urging the first Bulldog timeout with DPU leading 15-12. DePaul's run would grow to 8-0 for a 19-12 lead. Butler would call its final timeout of the set with DePaul leading 22-13 and the Blue Demons would go on to win the first set 25-

SET TWO » DePaul burst into a 3-1 lead. Some impressive digs from Isabelle Banez kept DePaul alive and contributed to a 4-0 run that resulted in a 7-3 lead for the Blue Demons. Butler responded with a 8-0 run to take the lead and force a DePaul timeout. Butler held the lead for the remainder of the set. With the Bulldogs at set point, DePaul went on a 4-0 run to close in on the deficit but would drop 25-22.

SET THREE » DePaul saw another 3-1 lead but Butler knotted the score at 3-3. The lead exchanged back and forth before Butler jumped ahead. DePaul came close a few times but Butler would take the second set 25-21.

SET FOUR » Butler jumped out to a 3-1 lead and it was a back and forth battle from there and DePaul called a timeout being down 15-16. Butler called a timeout leading 22-20. Out of the stoppage, DePaul went on a 3-0 run featuring kills from Maxwell and Claire Anderson to take a late lead at 23-22, urging another Butler timeout. DePaul took the fourth set 25-22.

SET FIVE » The first three points went to DePaul. Butler called a timeout with DePaul leading 6-2. A kill from Maxwell would keep DePaul's momentum going out of the stoppage on a 14-2 run. Butler came within two on a 4-0 run, bringing a DePaul timeout and later came within one at 11-12. With the score knotted at 12-12, the Blue Demons used another timeout. A 6-0 run brought the Bulldogs to match point and a Blue Demon error gave Butler the final set 15-12.

LEADERS

Kills » Brittany Maxwell (19)
Assists » Natalie Hayward (24)
Digs » Isabelle Banez (30)
Solo Blocks » Brittany Maxwell, Donna Brown, Claire Anderson, Bailey Nelson (1)
Aces » Donna Brown, Mattie Norris, Natalie Hayward (1)

NEXT UP

DePaul takes this weekend off and returns to action Oct. 11 and 12 as the Blue Demons host Creighton and Providence.

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