University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
6-14,1-7Big East
Butler University
9-10,3-5Big East
Huskies Snap Losing Streak, Upend Butler in First Conference Win this Season
10/14/2023 8:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's volleyball team won in four sets against Butler, snapping the eight-game skid and taking its first BIG EAST victory this season Saturday night. Sophomore Emma Werkmeister led all scorers with 18 kills, 3 assists, and 12 digs.Â
The Huskies, who are back in the win column at 6-14 overall and 1-7 in BIG EAST play, worked hard to edge out the Butler Bulldogs in a close four-set match. Butler moves to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Â
All four sets stayed within just a few points of each other. After a 3-0 scoring run to start out the first set for UConn, the Huskies kept even with Butler throughout the entire first set continuing to go back and forth. Through the first set, freshman Mya Ayro tacked on eight kills to help push the Huskies past the Bulldogs late in the set, as UConn took a 25-23 set win.Â
The Huskies continuing the back-and-forth play once again stayed even with Butler in the second set. UConn would go on a 4-0 scoring run to be up 19-14 and kept the lead. The Bulldogs closed in on the deficit by only being down by two points at 22-20, but UConn edged by winning 25-22.Â
With the first two sets close to even, the third set took on much of the same trend. UConn would go on a 4-0 scoring run to be up 10-4, but the Bulldogs again would answer with three separate scoring runs to give them the lead at 15-14. As Ayro, Werkmeister, and graduate student Cera Powell tacked on kills and strong defensive plays, Butler stayed up in the set, as UConn fell short in the set 25-22.Â
After three sets, UConn again keeping it close with Butler, weathered multiple scoring runs and dialed in two separate scoring runs. The Huskies got the lead back at 17-16 and eight assists from junior Doga Kutlu supported the offense and kept them up on Butler.Kutlu had 42 assists on the night. Not only on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, Kutlu had 18 total digs in the match, finishing with the 12th double-double of the season. UConn solidified a 25-23 set win and a 3-1 final set score. Â
Up NextÂ
The Huskies next host a midweek BIG EAST matchup against Providence on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. ET. Â
