Broncbusters lose in three at Butler

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

El Dorado, KS-A slow start was too much to overcome for Patrick Hiltz's team on Friday night.

Butler served up a little payback for their loss to the Broncbusters a month ago, beating Garden City in three sets 16-25, 16-25, 23-25 at the Power Plant.

"We have to find our mojo again," Hiltz said afterwards. "I'm not sure where this team is right now mentally, but we have to get straight as soon as possible."

Garden City was never really in the opening set. Amalie Rupertove's kill and Milayna Hollinger's spike put Butler up 17-8. Then Keera Parks closed out the first frame with back-to-back aces.

"Our attention to detail was lacking severely tonight," Hiltz said. "That's really what got us beat. It was the little things."

The Broncbusters flipped the script in the second set, pushing their way to a 16-13 lead. But the Grizzlies answered with 12 straight points, punctuated with Jaryn Benning's service ace that put Butler up 2-0.

"Right now, this team performs like my golf game," Hiltz said. "We are good in one area, but not so good in another."

In the third, Garden City built an early three-point edge. But again, the Grizzlies responded with three straight points to tie it; then took the lead for good when Benning's spike landed just inside the line, giving Butler a 15-12 edge. The Broncbusters never got any closer than two the rest of the way.

Alexandra Jackson and Katie McHugh each led the way with 13 digs for the Broncbusters, who lost their sixth straight match. Katarina Vojvodic had 10 kills, and Angel Sherman tallied nine.

Next up: Garden City at Lamar on Wednesday at 7 p.m.