Blue Demons Slip Against Bulldogs

Friday, October 17

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

11-7,4-3Big East

Butler

9-11,2-5Big East

Butler

DePaul

10/17/2025 10:07:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score

CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball fell to Butler in four sets (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 24-26) on Friday evening inside McGrath-Phillips Arena, dropping to 11-7 overall, and 4-3 in BIG EAST play.

The Blue Demons were paced on offense by 12 kills each from freshmen Kendall Timme and Isabela Tavares-Salomon. Tavares-Salomon also added a team-best seven blocks, while Timme registered seven digs for her fifth double-double this season.

Eva Hurrle topped the DePaul defense with 19 digs, while setter Amanda Saeger owned 39 assists on the evening.

"Tough match tonight for our squad," said head coach Marie Zidek.

"We out-killed them but also out-errored them. During BIG EAST play, that just does not fly at this point in the season. We will have to regroup and learn how to leave the weekend with a higher quality of game, not just our high end. It is a true test for this group, and we must make this loss serve us both immediately and long term."

Butler was led by 13 kills and ten digs from Alaleh Tolliver.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE
Butler took an early 9-6 edge after two Blue Demon attack errors, but a pair of aces from Morgan Stewart turned the tides back in DePaul's favor, as they took a 13-10 lead. A 4-0 run, paced by two aces from Sawyer Jones, put the Bulldogs back ahead, 20-16, Butler retained its advantage the rest of the way, sealing the opening set, 25-21, on another ace from Elise Ward.

SET TWO
The two sides swapped points early, with two kills each from Katelynn Oxley, Morgan Stewart and Timme for the Blue Demons. Just when it seemed DePaul might pull away behind two more kills and a pair of aces from Timme, the Bulldogs knotted the frame at 17 points apiece. Two more late kills from Timme and one from Jade Dudley-Epps helped the Blue Demons to a narrow 25-23 victory in the second frame.

SET THREE
Butler opened the third frame with a 4-0 run, highlighted by strong service from libero Lauren Evans. Tolliver then added a trio of kills to extend the lead for the Bulldogs to seven points. Three consecutive blocks from Tavares-Salomon and Oxley put the Blue Demons in striking distance at 17-16, but Butler responded with four blocks of its own, taking the set, 25-22.

SET FOUR
Strong service from Abby Cahill punctuated an early 5-0 scoring run for the Blue Demons, forcing Butler to use an early timeout. Three more kills from Tolliver knotted the set at nine points and the teams remained close through the rest of the set. A brief 3-0 run earned DePaul a late lead that they retained until the Bulldogs evened the frame late at 23 points. Butler won the set, 26-24, with a 3-0 run of its own, concluded by an ace from Maria Nix.

UP NEXT
DePaul finishes its home weekend against Xavier on Saturday, October 18. First serve is set for 5 p.m. inside McGrath-Phillips Arena. Tickets can be purchased here and the match will stream on ESPN+.

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