DES MOINES, IOWA ? In a match that began with a record-setting performance, it was Northern Iowa that spoiled the party for Drake as the Panthers registered a 3-0 (40-38, 30-17, 30-21) Missouri Valley Conference volleyball victory over the Bulldogs on Friday evening (Oct. 19).
The 38 points for Drake in game one matched a school record for points in a frame, established on Nov. 8, 2004 at Missouri State in a 40-38 game-two loss. The 40 points by Northern Iowa equals the Bears' MVC record for points in a single stanza.
The win was the 23rd straight by the Panthers over the Blue and White and pushed Northern Iowa's ledger to 13-9 overall and 7-3 in the MVC. Drake falls to 5-16 on the campaign, including 2-8 in league competition.
The epic battle waged in the initial frame proved to be a test of wills as both sides had 19 combined opportunities to secure the game before a Drake attack error sealed the deal for the Panthers.
Freshman
Angela Bys (Marion, Iowa/Marion) registered 13 of her match-high 22 kills in the opening frame.
The Bulldogs fought valiantly over the course of the next two games but were unable to recover as Northern Iowa posted 30-17 and 30-21 decisions, respectively.
Bys proved to be the only Drake player to crack double-figures in kills with 22, while freshman
Alisa DeBerg Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) came up one shy finishing the match with nine kills.
Northern Iowa was directed by 19-, 16- and 10-kill performances from Ashten Stelken, Amy Sampson and Shannon Aschoff, respectively.
Bys added 12 digs for Drake to record her fourth double-double of her career. Freshman
Alana Wittenburg (Readlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) paced the Bulldog attack with 13 digs, while Ellie Blankenship led all players with 16 for Northern Iowa.
Senior
Sarah Schuster (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) responded for Drake with a team-best 39 assists. Kristin Belzung directed the Panthers with 48.
The Bulldogs finished the affair striking the ball at a .146 clip as compared to a .319 attack mark by Northern Iowa. The Panthers recorded advantages in the contest in kills (64-48), assists (57-44), digs (54-49) and blocks (13.0-6.0).
Drake closes out its four-match homestand on Saturday (Oct. 20) as the Bulldogs host Bradley at 7:00 p.m.
