The Butler Bulldogs are gearing up for an emotional weekend at Hinkle Fieldhouse, hosting their last home matches of the season. Volleyball fans are invited to celebrate Alumni Night this Saturday, November 16th, as the Bulldogs face off against Villanova. Sunday, November 17th, will be Senior Night, as Butler takes on St. John’s. Both matches promise exciting volleyball action as the Bulldogs look to finish their home season strong against BIG EAST rivals Villanova and St. John’s.
Bulldog Bites: Key Stats and Storylines
Before diving into the Villanova and St. John’s matchups, here’s a quick look at the Bulldogs heading into this weekend:
- Butler currently holds an overall record of 6-20 and is eighth in the BIG EAST conference with a 4-10 record.
- The team is looking to bounce back after losses against Marquette and No. 5 Creighton last weekend.
- The Bulldogs are strong servers and blockers, ranking sixth in the BIG EAST in both service aces and blocks per set.
- Setter Cora Taylor is a key player to watch, sitting sixth in the conference with 8.88 assists per set and nearing 700 career digs – needing just six more.
- Lauren Evans ranks seventh in the BIG EAST for service aces per set (0.34) and is among three Bulldogs with 20+ aces this season.
- Elise Ward recently achieved her 400th career dig and is just one ace shy of 50 career service aces.
- Alaleh Tolliver is approaching milestones of 150 kills and 150 digs this season, needing just two more kills.
- Abby Maesch is close to reaching 500 career kills as a Bulldog, requiring only three more.
Historically, Butler has a balanced record against both Villanova and St. John’s at 11-10 all-time. However, recent history shows Villanova winning two of the last eight encounters, and St. John’s holding a five-match winning streak against the Bulldogs. This weekend provides Butler with the opportunity to reverse these trends on their home court.
Scouting Villanova Wildcats: A Mid-Season Surge
The Villanova Wildcats enter the weekend sixth in the BIG EAST standings with a 7-7 conference record and 14-11 overall. After a slow start to the season, Villanova found their stride in conference play, winning their first four BIG EAST matches. However, they have faced challenges recently, winning only three of their last ten matches.
Defensively, Villanova ranks 10th in the conference with 13.36 digs per set, suggesting an area Butler might exploit. Offensively, Abby Harrell is the Wildcats’ primary weapon, leading the team in kills and ranking 10th in the BIG EAST with 3.18 kills per set. Villanova also boasts a strong blocking presence with middle blockers Ozzie Ozonoh and Campbell McKinnon, who have combined for 160 blocks this season. Butler will need to find ways to penetrate Villanova’s block and capitalize on their dig deficiencies.
Scouting St. John’s Red Storm: Building on Last Season’s Success
St. John’s has continued their strong performance from last season, currently sitting fifth in the BIG EAST with an 18-10 overall record and 7-7 in conference play. They have notable wins against Duke and San Diego, demonstrating their capability against strong programs. After a 2-4 start in BIG EAST play, the Red Storm have rebounded, securing wins against DePaul and Xavier last weekend.
Erin Jones leads the St. John’s offense, ranking fourth in the conference with an impressive 3.60 kills per set and totaling nearly 350 kills this season. Interestingly, St. John’s has a similar digs per set average to Villanova (13.37), placing them just behind Butler in this defensive category. To be successful against St. John’s, Butler will need to contain Erin Jones and exploit any defensive vulnerabilities.
Previous Matchups: Villanova and St. John’s Sweep Butler Earlier This Season
In their previous encounters this season, both Villanova and St. John’s swept the Bulldogs. Against St. John’s on October 25th, Butler’s offense struggled, managing only 22 kills as a team. Destiny Cherry and Alaleh Tolliver led the Bulldogs with five kills each. Cora Taylor recorded 19 assists and Elise Ward had two service aces in that match.
The following day against Villanova, Butler showed stronger defense, out-digging the Wildcats 42 to 37. Jersey Loyer and Alaleh Tolliver each had eight digs. Cora Taylor had a standout performance with 26 assists and five blocks. Despite these individual efforts, Butler will aim for a stronger team performance to reverse the outcomes from these previous matches.
Freshman Spotlight: Zoe McDonald Making an Impact
Freshman Zoe McDonald has emerged as a significant contributor for the Bulldogs, earning starts in the last four matches as a middle blocker. She has shown consistent improvement, totaling 10 kills and 11 blocks during this period, strengthening Butler’s defense. Against top-ranked Marquette and No. 5 Creighton, McDonald recorded five kills and seven blocks, highlighting her potential and resilience in tough matchups. Her continued development is a positive sign for the future of Butler Volleyball.
Bulldogs in the BIG EAST Rankings: Individual Standouts
Several Bulldogs are making their mark in the BIG EAST rankings:
- Grace Boggess is sixth in blocks per set (1.00).
- Cora Taylor is sixth in assists per set (8.88).
- Abby Maesch is seventh in kills per set (3.38).
- Lauren Evans is seventh in service aces per set (0.34).
These individual rankings reflect the talent within the Butler squad and provide areas of strength as they head into the final home weekend.
Upcoming Milestones: Approaching Career Numbers
Several Bulldogs are on the verge of career milestones this weekend:
- Elise Ward is one service ace away from 50 career aces.
- Alaleh Tolliver is two kills away from 150 kills this season.
- Abby Maesch is three kills away from 500 career kills as a Bulldog.
- Cora Taylor needs six digs to reach 700 career digs and 88 assists to reach 3,000 career assists.
Fans will be eager to see if these milestones are reached during the Alumni and Senior Night matches.
Watch Live: Cheer on the Bulldogs
Bulldog fans can watch both matches live. Saturday’s match against Villanova will be streamed on YouTube, and Sunday’s match against St. John’s will be available on FloSports. Links to both streams can be found on the Butler Athletics website, ensuring fans won’t miss any of the action.
Up Next: Road Finale
Following this home stand, Butler will conclude their season on the road, facing Georgetown on Friday, November 22nd in Washington D.C., and Seton Hall on Saturday, November 23rd in New Jersey.
Don’t Miss the Action: Home Weekend Schedule
Mark your calendars for the final home volleyball matches of the season!
- Saturday, November 16th, 2:30 PM vs. Villanova (Alumni Night)
- Sunday, November 17th, 1:00 PM vs. St. John’s (Senior Night)
Come out to Hinkle Fieldhouse to support the Bulldogs, celebrate Alumni and Senior Night, and witness exciting BIG EAST volleyball as Butler takes on Villanova and St. John’s!
