FORT WAYNE, IND. - Behind a balanced attack the Drake volleyball team defeated Eastern Illinois 3-2 (25-21, 26-28, 25-16, 25-27, 15-12) Saturday at the IPFW Invitational.
The Bulldogs had five players in double-digit kills and three in double-digit digs led by senior outside hitter Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa/Adel DeSoto Minburn) with 11 kills and 20 digs.
Junior libero Alana Wittenburg (Readlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) had a season-high 28 digs while senior setter Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) had a double-double with 53 assists and 11 digs.
"We had a great balanced attack today and that is the game we have to play," said Drake head coach Phil McDaniel. "Our defensive effort was solid, we had five people in double-digit kills along with collecting double-digit blocks as a team."
The Bulldogs collected 13 blocks, led by sophomore middle hitter Michelle Reidy (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic) with seven blocks along with a team-high 14 kills.
Also collecting double-digit kills was junior outside hitter Angela Bys (Marion, Iowa/Marion) and redshirt freshman middle-hitter Emily Heffernen (Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware) with 12 kills apiece and junior outside hitter Alisa DeBerg Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) with 11 kills.
The Bulldogs again topped their opponents in every team category: kills (68-57), hitting percentage (.230-.130), assists (66-53), digs (88-81) and blocks (13-11).
Drake closes play at the IPFW Invitational against the host Mastodons at 6 p.m.
