Grizzlies come from behind to win a five-set thriller over #13 Seward Wednesday night in the Power Plant

The Butler Grizzlies put themselves in the driver's seat of the conference title race with a wild, thrilling 3-2 victory over league leaders and nationally #13-ranied Seward in a packed house at the Power Plant on Wednesday night. 

The victory improves Butler's record to 22-11 overall and 13-2 in conference play. The Grizzlies are now tied in the standings with the Saints and are now one win away from winning at least a share of the Jayhawk Conference title for the second straight year. Butler has now avenged their two conference losses, knocking off Seward after a loss in Liberal two weeks ago four days after avenging a loss against Dodge City.

The Grizzlies needed every point. Just like in the first match against Seward, Butler took the first set, winning 25-20. But, just like the match in Liberal, Seward rallied. The Saints took the second set, 25-19, and the third, 25-18. They looked poised to take control of the match and win the league title outright with a 17-10 lead in set four, but the Grizzlies roared back. After a Butler timeout, the Grizzlies scored eight of the next nine points and took the lead 19-18, and would carry the momentum on the back of a thrilling atmosphere to take the fourth set, 25-22, to force a decisive fifth set. 

The Grizzlies were down 8-7 in the fifth set, but again they rallied. They outscored Seward 7-2 after the two teams switched sides, and a Kennedy Kelly kill propelled Butler to a massive victory in front of the electric crowd in the Power Plant.

Sophomores Ivy Fink and Kennedy Kelly willed their team to victory. The duo led the team in kills, both with 16. Kelly's 16 kills on 39 attempts was good for a hitting percentage of .359. Carrie Roe had a strong game as well, dropping several missiles across the net for 10 kills of her own. Butler finished with 56 kills as a team on 169 attempts, good for a team hitting percentage of .266. 

Rainey Aven led the team in assists as per usual, finishing with 48 and upping her career total to 1,750. Aven also contributed four blocks and 12 digs. It was Kelly who led the team with five blocks, however. Sydney Lentz put in a strong shift putting away three blocks of her own as Butler finished with 16 as a team.

The Grizzlies have one more match in the regular season, and it's a big one. Butler hosts Hutchinson on the last day of the regular season with a chance to clinch a share of the Jayhawk Conference title. Butler is also looking to finish the regular season unbeaten at home for the second year in a row. The Grizzlies extended their home winning streak to 23-straight matches without a loss at the Power Plant with the victory over the Saints.