DES MOINES, IOWA - Drake head volleyball coach
Phil McDaniel called it a battle and fight until the final point did his Bulldogs before Missouri State pulled out a 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 28-26) victory on Saturday evening (Sept. 27).
The loss dropped Drake to 8-7 overall, including 1-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Lady Bears snared the win to improve to 9-6 on the year and 1-2 in league competition.
“Playing another solid team in Missouri State, we battled and we were out there flying around making big plays defensively and taking some big swings at key moments,” McDaniel commented. “It is a bounce or two here or there and we didn't quite block as well as we did in the past. If we get our blocking back and keep attacking this way we're going to be fine in the Valley. We believe we can compete with the best in this conference and we have so far and one of these days it is going to turn around for us and we're going to take one of these big matches.”
The first set was an offensive showcase as each side collected 18 kills with Missouri State owning a .400 to .381 advantage in hitting percentage. Led by six kills and a .545 attack mark in the frame from sophomore
Angela Bys (Marion, Iowa/Marion), the Bulldogs claimed a 25-23 triumph in the set.
Hitting numbers cooled dramatically in the second set, but it was five kills from Calli Norman that propelled the Lady Bears to a 25-21 decision.
Missouri State attacked the ball at a .500 clip in the third frame to assume a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-16 set-three victory.
The Lady Bears were on the verge of claiming the final stanza holding a 24-21 lead before the Bulldogs fought back to square the frame at 25 and later 26. A kill by Calli Norman sealed the 28-26 victory for Missouri State.
Junior
Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) and Bys each registered their team-best fifth double-doubles of the campaign. Lauersdorf turned in a 48-assist, 10-dig performance, while Bys recorded a match-high 19 kills to go along with 10 digs. Junior
Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa/Adel DeSoto Minburn) and freshman
Michelle Reidy (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic) each had strong efforts notching 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Sophomore
Alana Wittenburg (Readlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) chipped in 14 digs for the Blue and White.
Cara Hackman and Norman finished with a team-best 18 kills apiece for Missouri State.
The Lady Bears garnered advantages in the match in kills (71-60), assists (66-56), digs (64-58) and blocks (12.0-6.0), while the Bulldogs bettered Missouri State in service aces, 3-1.
The Lady Bears finished the affair attacking the ball at a .325 clip, while Drake recorded a .108 hitting percentage.
The Bulldogs return to the court on Friday (Oct. 3) as Drake travels to Creighton for a 7:00 p.m. tilt.