FORT WAYNE, IND. - Behind a .324 hitting percentage, Butler University handed the Drake volleyball team a season-opening 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-21) defeat in the morning session of the IPFW Invitational.
"I think defensively we were strong but had a hard time putting the ball away," said Drake head coach Phil McDaniel. "Butler is a very strong team, they pass the ball well."
Senior setter Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) collected 23 assists, while junior libero Alana Wittenburg (Readlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) and sophomore defensive specialist Erika Price (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) had 13 and nine digs, respectively.
Leading the attack was junior outside hitter Alisa DeBerg Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) with nine kills, followed by senior outside hitter Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa/Adel DeSoto Minburn) with six.
Butler topped Drake in kills (44-33), hitting percentage (.324-.158), assists (42-32), digs (57-49) and blocks (5-3).
Next up Drake faces Kent State in the afternoon session of IPFW Invitational. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
