NASHVILLE - The Lipscomb University volleyball team overcame a slow start in the first set to defeat Butler University in four sets, Sunday afternoon from Allen Arena.
Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Butler 1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (2-1), Butler (0-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Butler got out to a strong start with a 9-4 lead, but Lipscomb rallied on two separate instances to even the match. Tied at 12, the Bulldogs used a strong attack to keep the Bisons at bay. Posting 17 kills in the frame, the visitors got out to a 1-0 match lead.
In the second set, after the Bulldogs tied it at 10 points apiece, the Bisons went on a 15-5 run to finish the set. Extended the lead to 19-12,
Meg Mersman and
Addi Pelham were there for the block.
Later in the frame, the Bisons racked up three straight points from a
Karlie McNabb service ace and back-to-back kills from
Jada DiVita and
Courtney Jones to even the contest at a game apiece.
Lipscomb got out to a strong start in set number three, winning five of the first six points. However, Butler made things interesting and chipped away at the deficit to 14-13, but a
Berkley Mischler strike extended the lead for LUV at the media timeout.
Going back-and forth, the Bulldogs made it a 24-20 deficit and scored three straight points to make things interesting. The Bisons did respond with a kill by Pelham to make it a 25-23 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was a toe-for-toe tilt, but with all things even at nine points apiece, six of the seven points went to the home team, including two team blocks during that stretch.
Extending the lead to 17-10, Lipscomb saw the lead chip away again by Butler, as they went on a 7-3 run to pull within three points.
Out of the timeout, a Mischler kill gave the Bisons the sideout, and Jones was in rotation for service. She placed back-to-back strikes on the Bulldog side of the floor to make it a 23-17 lead.
Pelham and Mersman wrapped up the match with kills to seal the deal and win the contest in four sets.
KEY STATISTICS
After Butler recorded a sideout percentage of 72% (16-of-22), Lipscomb held them to under 50% the rest of the match.
Additionally, the Bulldogs were limited to 15 kills and a .000 attack percentage, while the Bisons recorded 28.
Berkley Mischler led the home team with 14 kills with a .591 swing percentage and assisted on four blocks.
Addi Pelham had five total blocks on the day to go with her 11 kills, while
Luca Bredenberg contributed 10 digs.
Courtney Jones recorded nine kills and six aces, while
Meg Mersman added eight spikes and five stops at the net.
HERD NOTES
-In the fourth set,
Courtney Jones picked up her 500th career kill.
-The Bisons put up nine service aces, led by
Courtney Jones with six. Setting a new career high in the category, Jones finishes the weekend with seven after having eight all of last season.
-It was a block party for the Bisons, as they posted 12 total blocks in the match.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will next hit the road for a west coast trip to Brigham Young University on Thursday. The Bisons will take on the No. 16 Cougars on Thursday at 8 p.m. CST.
