DES MOINES, IOWA ? A 3-0 (30-28, 30-27, 30-23) victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday (Sept. 1) capped a stellar weekend for the Drake volleyball team as the Bulldogs finished second in the Hampton Inn Invitational at the Knapp Center. Senior Samantha Nelson (Ceresco, Neb./Raymond Central) and freshman Mikayla Sims (Waterloo, Iowa/East) earned all-tournament laurels for the Blue and White.

The Bulldogs now head into the Hampton Inn State of Iowa College Volleyball Challenge next weekend with a 2-2 record, while Florida Atlantic heads home at 1-5.

A 12-kill effort from Sims paced the Drake attack and was complimented by 11 kills off the hand of sophomore Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa/Adel DeSoto Minburn). Senior Sarah Schuster (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) led all players with 37 assists.

Casey LaRocca garnered all-tournament honors for the Owls after a 35-assist, seven-dig effort. Kala Abdell recorded a match-high 13 kills and was joined in double-figures in kills by Morgan Johns with 12. Kendall Utz was the lone player in the match to crack double-digits in digs with 13.

The Owls cracked the ball at a .234 clip, while limiting the Bulldogs to a .188 attack mark. Florida Atlantic claimed victories in kills (46-43), digs (32-30) and blocks (7.0-6.0). Drake bested the Owls in assists (40-39) and service aces (12-3).

Furman claimed the tournament title on the strength of performances by tournament MVP Alison West and all-tournament player Nicole Palazzo. Joining the duo of the all-tournament squad was Sims, Nelson, Green Bay's Betty Slinker and LaRocca. The Paladins earned the tournament crown with a 3-2 triumph over Green Bay.

Drake battles Iowa on Friday (Sept. 7) at 7:30 p.m. in the second match of the Hampton Inn State of Iowa College Volleyball Challenge.