IOWA CITY, IOWA - The Drake volleyball team fell to 11th-ranked Iowa State, 3-1, in the morning session of the Hawkeye Challenge Saturday.

Iowa State took the first two games from the Bulldogs 25-18 and 25-14 before Drake bounced back with a 28-26 triumph in the third game. Unable to keep the momentum, Drake dropped the fourth game to the Cyclones 25-15.

"Iowa State is a very good team and came out strong this morning," said Drake head coach Phil McDaniel. "We need to stay disciplined on defense if we are going to be competitive against a team of that caliber."

Junior outside hitter Angela Bys (Marion, Iowa/Marion) led Drake at the net with 12 kills, followed by senior outside hitter Emily Madden (Van Meter, Iowa/Adel DeSoto Minburn) and junior outside hitter Alisa DeBerg Roth (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) with seven kills apiece.

Senior setter Chelsea Lauersdorf (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) dished out 26 assists while junior libero Alana Wittenburg (Redlyn, Iowa/Wapsie Valley) had a team-high 17 digs.

"We had some shining moments today and it was nice to take a set from them," commented McDaniel. "That shows me that we are making great progress with this team and that is exciting."

Next-up Drake faces host Iowa tonight at 7 p.m.

"We have to be sharp from the start, step up the defensive intensity and come out and aggressively attack the ball to compete with Iowa," noted McDaniel.