The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Volleyball’s Butler leads U.S. to victory to close World Championships
07.23.2017 | Volleyball
Texas freshman Brionne Butler posted 11 kills for her third match with double-digit kills with the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team.
CORDOBA, Mexico – Texas Volleyball freshman Brionne Butler posted 11 kills on 13 swings to lead the U.S. Women's Junior National Team to victory over Bulgaria, 3-2 (25-16, 19-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-9) to close out World Championships on Sunday.
Butler finished with 13 points, also adding two blocks for the U.S. to assist her 11 kills.
In all eight matches, Butler had at least seven kills and two blocks.
After both teams struggled early in the first set with serve-receive, the Americans reached the first technical timeout leading 8-5. The U.S. went on a 9-2 run to establish a 17-7, 10-point cushion. Bulgaria cut its deficit to 18-13. The Americans answered by scoring seven of the last 10 points for a 25-16 victory. Stone scored 10 points in the opening set as the U.S. held a 5-0 advantage in blocks.
Bulgaria nabbed an 8-3 lead at the first technical timeout in the second set. After trailing 9-3, the U.S. closed the gap to 15-13. However, Bulgaria quickly upped its lead to 21-16.
The U.S. overcame an early 7-5 deficit in the third set by scoring three straight to take an 8-7 lead into the first technical timeout. Bulgaria reversed the lead at the second technical timeout out as it led 16-14. The European side increased its margin to 22-17 and closed the set at 25-19.
The U.S. broke a 3-all tie in the fourth set and grabbed an 8-5 lead heading into the first technical timeout. Team USA increased its advantage to 11-6. The Americans charged forward to a 16-8 lead at the second technical timeout. Team USA ended the set at 25-16 to send the match to a deciding fifth set.
After trailing 2-1 in the fifth set, the Americans went on a 6-0 run to put themselves in front 7-2. The U.S. jumped the lead to 11-4 and went on to win 15-9, to finish seventh at the FIVB Women's U20 World Championship.
2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U20 World Championship
Pool C at Boca del Rio, Mexico
July 14: Brazil def. USA, 25-10, 25-12, 24-26, 25-22
-Butler: 12 points, nine kills on 12 swings, 2 blocks, 1 ace
July 15: USA def. Cuba, 31-29, 25-20, 25-23
-Butler: 12 points, 7 kills on 11 swings, 3 aces, 2 blocks
July 16: USA def. Serbia, 22-25, 10-25, 26-24, 25-23, 17-15
-Butler: 9 kills on 16 swings, 3 blocks
Pool F (Top 8 Gold Bracket) at Cordoba, Mexico
July 18: China def. USA, 23-25, 30-28, 25-15, 10-25, 15-13
-Butler: 13 points, 10 kills on 18 swings, 2 blocks, 1 ace
July 19: Japan def. USA, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17
-Butler: 16 points, 14 kills, 22 swings, 2 blocks
July 20: Bulgaria def. USA, 16-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12
-Butler: 14 points, 7 kills on 14 swings, 5 blocks, 2 aces
July 22: Poland def. USA, 25-14, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20
-Butler: 11 points, 7 kills on 11 swings, 2 blocks, 2 aces
July 23: USA def. Bulgaria, 25-16, 19-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-9
-Butler: 13 points, 11 kills on 13 swings, 2 blocks
