Pirates Fall to 0-3 in Conference Play Behind a Tough Loss to Butler

Published: Friday, October 2, 2026

by Nick Diodato

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (8-7, 0-3) suffered a tough 3-0 set loss tonight to the Butler Bulldogs (9-6, 3-0). 

 

Coming into the matchup, the Pirates were coming off back-to-back conference losses vs. St Johns and #25 Creighton. In these matches, Seton Hall suffered 3-0 losses and were within about six points of their opponents during the matchups. 

 

Butler came into the match already hot from their two conference wins vs. Villanova and Georgetown. Those wins snapped up a four-game losing streak, and the Bulldogs have looked like a completely different team since then.  

 

For set one, both the Pirates and the Bulldogs played very back and forth, and neither team really stood out. Butler then extended their lead to six with multiple service aces and an attack error falling in favor of the Bulldogs.

 

Seton Hall then slowly trickled their way back, and even tied the game up at 20-20, but Butler's Raegan Durbin picked up the slack and helped end the first set 25-22. Durbin was second in kills with nine and led the Bulldogs with three aces.  

 

Game two saw more of the same to start, and it again was a back-and-forth game with Butler trying to pull away with a 13-7 lead. Seton Hall's Emilee Fuller with back-to-back kills and a service ace that brought the Pirates back within one.  

 

Also in this match, Seton Hall's Rylee Nelson recorded her 1,000th career dig, becoming just the 15th pirate to do so in history. The Bulldogs managed to hold off another comeback and won the set 25-19, leading two sets to zero going into game three.

 

Game three was perhaps the Pirates' best chance at a real comeback, and after the break, it looked as if Butler's 2-0 lead was just a fluke.  

 

Seton Hall came out roaring to an early 7-2 lead and capitalized off Butler's left and right mistakes. This, however, did not last as the Bulldogs tied it up at 14 then went on a 6-1 run that put Butler up by 5 before they closed out the game with a 25-18 victory, shutting out Seton Hall 3-0.  

 

Tonight's matchup proved to be a tough one for the Pirates as they simply could not hold off Butler's momentum and tightly knit offense. Seton Hall will look to come back from this and snap their 3-game losing streak tomorrow vs. Xavier back home in Walsh Gymnasium.

 

You can listen to all the action at 4:00 p.m. where Maggir Fournier and Caitlin Barrar will have the call on wsou.net.

 

Nick Diodato can be reached at nicholas.diodato@student.shu.edu 

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