El Paso, Texas (August 29, 2008) – Sophomore Kelsey Labrum led all players with 17 kills and sophomore Jessica Wolfe and junior Porshia Allen added 12 kills each as Butler claimed a 3-1 decision over UTEP in the first game of the Sun Bowl Volleyball Invitational on Friday evening.

Labrum tallied a double-double in her first game with the Bulldogs, notching 17 kills and 12 digs, while hitting .302 in the match.

After finding itself in an early 12-5 deficit in the opening set, Butler rode a 9-1 run to take a 14-13 advantage before holding on late for a 25-22 win and a 1-0 lead in the match.

UTEP took the second set to bring the bout back to even at 1-1. The Bulldogs responded in the third set, taking a 3-0 advantage and never relinquishing the lead in notching another 25-22 decision.

Butler controlled the tempo in the final set, building up as much as a six-point margin and holding no less than a three-point lead throughout in winning the fourth and deciding set, 25-19.

Senior Dana Daprile paced the team with 30 assists, while sophomore Katie Daprile recorded a team-best 17 digs. The Bulldog defense, meanwhile, held the Miners to a .212 attack percentage in the match.

UTEP junior Catherine Chavez recorded the first double-double of the season tallying 14 kills and 13 digs. Fellow El Paso native Amy Sanders, also recorded 14 kills to lead all Miners in that category.

UTEP's Daidre Mendenhall also recorded a double-digit kill performance with 11, while registering a team-high eight blocks. Two Miners, freshman outside hitter Marie-Therese Joyce and junior transfer KeAnne Langford made their debut in a UTEP uniform. Langford, a libero from Hutchinson Community College, recorded 14 digs, while Joyce had two aces in the match.