Broncbusters drop five-set heartbreaker to Butler

Garden City, KS-In a season defined by near misses, Saturday's conference showdown played out in all too familiar fashion.  

Sarah Sullivan had 15 kills, Anja Milosevic added 37 assists, and Butler outlasted Garden City in five sets, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 13-15 at Conestoga Arena. 

Julia Brazil tallied 17 kills for the Broncbusters, which fell to 11-10 overall and 5-7 in conference play. Vitoria Stedile recorded 38 digs, and Vitoria Reis added 20 assists.  

Garden City had their chances in the first set when they held a 22-19 lead after Brazil hammered home a kill. But the Grizzlies responded with a 6-1 run to close the set, capped by a pair of Sullivan kills that gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage. 

The Broncbusters answered with a strong showing in the second. Kinnley Flower dropped in an ace, and Brazil tapped one over the net for a 19-13 advantage. Moments later, Katarina Miscevic rejected a Butler attack, and the Broncbusters had their largest lead of the match. After Butler pulled to within two on the heels of a 7-2 surge, the Grizzlies committed a net violation and an attack error that gave Garden City the set.  

The Broncbusters let the third set slip away. 

With the game knotted at 18, Avery DeLong gave Butler the lead for good with a kill and an ace, Sullivan powered home a spike, and the Grizzlies took a 2-1 edge in the match thanks to a 7-2 run to close the frame.  

The Broncbusters though thoroughly dominated in the fourth building a commanding, 10-0 advantage. Butler got within four after Milosevic's ace made it 18-14 before Garden City answered with a 7-2 run to force a fifth set.  

The Broncbusters appeared to be in control in the final stanza after Sophia Neilhouse's attack error gave Garden City a 9-5 lead. But Sullivan responded with a block, Ryann Hamilton pounded home back-to-back kills, and the game was tied at 13. Kayla Hermreck and Neilhouse then combined for consecutive spikes to end the match.