KANSAS CITY, MO. - In its final non-conference match of the campaign, Drake notched its first road victory of the season with a 3-1 (30-27, 27-30, 30-21, 30-28) triumph over UMKC in volleyball action on Wednesday (Nov. 8).
The Bulldogs upped their record to 6-20 overall with the win, while the Kangaroos ledger drops to 6-22 following the setback.
Drake secured the victory in game one, 30-27, before UMKC evened the match with an identical 30-27 decision in the second frame. In game three, the Bulldogs were able to capitalize on Kangaroo errors en route to securing the stanza, 30-21. The blue and white led by as many 12 points in the deciding game four before UMKC rallied, the effort though was thwarted as the Bulldogs held on for the win.
Senior
Eve Johnson (Council Bluffs, Iowa) paced Drake with a 19-kill, 10-dig effort for her team-leading seventh double-double of the year. She was joined in double-figures in kills by senior
Megan Veltman (Racine, Wis.), freshman
Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa) and junior
Samantha Nelson (Ceresco, Neb.) with 13, 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Madden also added 13 digs to post her third career double-double. Junior
Sarah Schuster (Indianola, Iowa) ignited the Drake attack with a 57-assist, 14-dig performance. Her 57 assists represent the highest mark by a Bulldog setter this season. Senior
Beth Kranske (Fort Collins, Colo.) chipped in a team-high 15 digs. Angela Melka directed the Kangaroos with a 21 kills and 16 digs. Kylee Stephenson led all players with a match-best 19 digs.
The blue and white controlled the statistical count in the affair as they bettered UMKC in kills (65-58), assists (59-54), digs (74-70) and service aces (12-3). Drake finished the affair with a .201 attack mark, a number which was only a point better than the Kangaroos (.200).
The Bulldogs return home this weekend, closing out the home portion of their schedule with matches versus Wichita State (Nov. 10) and Missouri State (Nov. 11). Match time against the Shockers on Friday is 7:00 p.m., while the home finale with Missouri State will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
