Indianapolis, IND — The DePaul Blue Demons secured a strong close to their 2025 campaign, earning a decisive 3-1 road victory (25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22) over the Butler Bulldogs in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sunday, November 16. The match, which served as Butler’s Senior Day, saw the Blue Demons overcome early deficits in three of the four sets, relying heavily on their superior blocking and efficient attack to clinch the win. The victory brings DePaul’s final season record to 14-13 overall and 7-9 in Big East play.

➡️  Butler vs DePaul photos

The opening set saw a resilient effort from DePaul after Butler initially jumped out to a significant 11-5 lead. The Blue Demons, however, refused to concede the early advantage, methodically chipping away at the lead. A key service ace from Morgan Stewart tied the frame at 15-15, signaling a shift in momentum. DePaul’s defensive pressure and timely hitting created a powerful 7-1 run to close the set, ultimately winning 25-19 and seizing the early 1-0 match lead.

Butler bounced back aggressively in the second set, once again starting fast and taking an early 6-2 lead. While DePaul managed to temporarily tie the set at 12-12, the Bulldogs found a second wind, using four consecutive kills to establish a 17-14 margin. Unlike the first set, the Bulldogs maintained their control throughout the latter half, with a kill from Alaleh Tolliver sealing the 25-21 victory for Butler, leveling the match score at one set apiece.

The critical third set proved to be a defensive showcase for the Blue Demons. Butler’s fast start persisted, giving them a commanding 7-1 lead and, later, a significant 21-16 advantage, putting them on the verge of taking a 2-1 lead in the match. However, DePaul mounted a massive comeback, fueled by a powerful blocking effort at the net. The Blue Demons launched a stunning 6-0 run, ending the set with back-to-back blocks to secure the improbable 25-22 victory and tilt the match heavily in their favor.

The final set maintained the match’s intense, back-and-forth nature. With the score tied 14-14, the teams exchanged blows, but DePaul’s veteran leadership helped them pull away late. Kills from Kendall Timme and Katelynn Oxley pushed the Blue Demons to a 22-20 lead. Though Butler tied it one final time at 22-22, DePaul again found the closing edge, finishing the set with consecutive kills and a match-winning service ace by Eva Hurrle to clinch the 25-22 set and the 3-1 victory.

Offensively, DePaul was led by a pair of dominant performances, with Kendall Timme recording a match-high 16 kills and Jade Dudley-Epps adding 13 kills while hitting an outstanding .500 for the match. Defensively, DePaul’s blocking proved to be the difference maker, out-blocking the Bulldogs 16-5, highlighted by Dudley-Epps’ nine total blocks (two solo, seven assists) and Katelynn Oxley’s seven blocks (three solo, four assists). Butler, despite having a narrow 52-51 edge in total kills, was hindered by a high number of attacking errors, resulting in a .164 hitting percentage compared to DePaul’s efficient .300 team mark.