INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On Friday evening, Oakland University Volleyball suffered a 3-0 defeat to host Butler University in game one of the Top Dawg Challenge at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

SET ONE // OAKLAND 24, BUTLER 26
The Oakland arms would come out scorching as the Golden Grizzlies, spearheaded by Libby Gentile and Patti Cesarini, would kick out to a 2-1 start before the Bulldogs would commit three-straight attacking errors to give OU a comfortable lead early on. A service ace by Cesarini would force a Butler timeout at the 17-11 mark on the scoreboard as Butler would mount a run, stealing the first set in extra points 26-24. 

SET TWO // OAKLAND 20, BUTLER 25
The Bulldogs would jump out early in set two with Adams banking back-to-back kills to slowly climb back though the home blue would hit the ten-point mark first at 10-8. Oakland would go on a three-point run off the Bulldogs' errors plus a service ace by Madison Ross but Butler would finish the set off with its offense.

SET THREE // OAKLAND 19, BUTLER 25
Both teams would come out firing in the third set as Oakland though the Bulldogs would continue to keep a slight edge by a few points, beating OU to the 20-point mark as the home team would finish down the stretch to wrap up the Golden Grizzlies' first regular season contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Adams finished the day with nine kills to Cesarini and Gentile's six
• Jessica Reidl and Madison Ross would connect on two blocks
• Oakland would record five blocks to Butler's seven
• AnnaBelle Tomei led the Golden Grizzlies with 14 assists, Wichmann recorded 23 digs
• The series with Butler is now 1-2 in the Bulldogs' favor

The Golden Grizzlies are still in Hinkle Fieldhouse tomorrow, August 27 for two games starting at Noon against Eastern Illinois and Akron.