Blue Demons Take Down Butler, 3-2

Friday, February 26

Chicago, Ill.

3:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

2-3,2-3Big East

Butler

3-4,0-1Big East

Butler

DePaul

2/26/2021 7:36:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DePaul weathers 42 ties and 19 lead changes to claim the win over the Bulldogs

CHICAGO – DePaul picked up its second-straight win in five-set fashion on Friday night with a 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 24-26, 24-14, 20-18) victory over Butler at McGrath-Phillips Arena.

Jill Pressly tallied a match-high 16 kills while Emma Price recorded 13 of her own. Rachel Krasowski anchored the DePaul back line with 23 digs while Hanna Karl picked up a career-high 18.

Donna Brown and Avarie Evans-Allen were a force at the net. Brown totaled six blocks while Evans-Allen sent back five rejections. The Blue Demons posted 11 blocks to Butler's six.

"What another phenomenal breakthrough for this group against a Butler team that has owned us in 5 setters the last two years. Butler always brings their top blocking performance against us, and today, we found the grittiness and courage to respond" said Head Coach Marie Zidek.

"This was an unbelievable effort by the whole squad - starters and game changers alike. It's a statement win when someone like Belle can come in during the 5th set and go on a serving run after not playing all match. Big statement when our right sides who had been struggling found a way down the stretch to elevate their games and provide the stability they can to our offense. Big kudos as well to our setters for finding ways to manipulate our offense to win their matchups. Playing really good blocking teams like Butler who are ruthless are such good experiences for our squad, because it requires hitters to respond in the moment when all is on the line.

"I am so so proud of this entire group and for their focus on what our TEAM can do, and I'm excited to see what the day holds for us again vs Butler tomorrow."

In the first set, the visitors jumped out to an early 8-5 margin. The Blue Demons went on a mini 3-0 run with Molly Murrihy behind the service line to put DePaul in front 13-11. An Evans-Allen kill forced a Butler timeout with DePaul ahead 18-15. Out of the huddle, Butler scored eight of the next nine points to take the first stanza.

Both teams traded point for point in the second set, with the teams knotted squarely at 10 apiece. The Bulldogs looked to create separation at 16-13 off of two consecutive DePaul attack errors. DePaul score four of the next five to tie the score again at 17. The Blue Demons would go on to score seven of the last eight points behind tremendous serving and passing to win set two and even the match at one.

Butler took the third set by the narrowest of margins, 26-24. The Bulldogs led early at 12-9 before DePaul rallied to take the lead at 19-14 behind consecutive Bailey Nelson kills, a Karl service ace and a block by Nelson and Brown. Butler stormed back to take the lead at 23-22 and finished off the set with kills from Brittany Robinson and Amina Shackelford.

DePaul (2-3, 2-3 BIG EAST) was in control from the beginning in the fourth set. After the Blue Demons opened a 7-3 lead behind extensive stints from the service line from Pressly and Krasowski, Butler threatened and tied the score up at 11. The Bulldogs would score only three more points the remainder of the set as DePaul would pull ahead to clinch a 25-14 set four win and send the match to five.

DePaul utilized the momentum from the fourth to push them over the top in the fifth. A Jill Pressly kill put the Blue Demons in front 6-4 to force a Bulldogs timeout. Butler (3-4, 0-1 BIG EAST) was not going away quietly and pulled in front 11-9 off of a Marisa Guisti kill. The fight of the Blue Demons staved off match point at 16-15 thanks to a Butler ball handling error. DePaul would be the first team to string two points together behind a Pressly kill and Brown solo block to seal the deal and win the match.

"Also the leadership that our seniors showed, especially Avarie with some big time plays was one of the biggest ingredients that allowed us to break through. You're seeing a team go from learning to walk to a team that's not afraid to sprint" added Zidek in closing.

DePaul returns to the court to face Butler on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. The Blue Demons will honor seniors Isabelle Banez, Avarie Evans-Allen and Emma Price alongside student manager Julia Drozdz with a pregame ceremony.