EAST PEORIA, ILL. - Sparked by a career-best 14 kills from freshman Michelle Reidy (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic), the Drake volleyball team snapped its four-match losing streak with a dramatic 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25-17, 20-25, 15-8) road victory over Bradley on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20).

The Bulldogs surpassed their win total for all of the 2007 campaign (7) with the triumph and now stand at 8-5 overall, including 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The loss dropped the Braves' ledger to 3-9 on the season and 0-2 in league competition.

“Our block wasn't as strong as in the past but we bounced back pretty well today,” Drake head coach Phil McDaniel commented. “Michelle (Reidy) had another fantastic performance, possibly her breakout match and Angela (Bys) turned in another solid effort.”

As has been the case in the previous two matches between the schools, the contest went the distance with each side winning alternating sets. The difference in the contest proved to be Drake's hitting in the final frame as the Bulldogs notched a .550 attack mark en route to registering 11 kills against no errors.

Sophomore Angela Bys (Marion, Iowa/Marion) contributed her team-leading fourth double-double of the season recording a match-high 15 kills to go along with 12 digs.

Reidy continued to elevate her game for the Blue and White posting 14 kills, while attacking the ball at a .357 clip.

Sophomore Alana Wittenburg (Readlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) led all players with 25 digs and was joined in double-figures by Bys and junior Lindsay Schryver (Williams Bay, Wis./Williams Bay) with 12 apiece. Junior Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) contributed 46 assists, while sophomore Alisa DeBerh Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) was strong with nine kills and a match-best five block assists.

Kaitlyn Comiskey and Sam Black each recorded double-doubles for Bradley.

The Bulldogs won the statistical battle in kills (58-55), assists (54-47), service aces (9-5) and digs (77-72), while blocks were even at eight apiece. Drake finished the affair recording a .225 hitting percentage and held Bradley to a .215 attack mark.

Drake returns home for a pair of matches next weekend with Drake facing nationally ranked Wichita State on Friday (Sept. 26) before tangling with Missouri State on Saturday (Sept. 27). Both matches get underway at 7:00 p.m.