DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake University volleyball team fell, 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-17), to Wichita State Friday night in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Bulldogs (17-4, 3-4 MVC) were done in by a stellar Wichita State (11-4, 4-2 MVC) defensive effort, which owned a 78-59 advantage in the digs department.

The Bulldogs were held without a player with double-digit kills for the first time this season. Sophomores Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa) and Emily Heffernen (Manchester, Iowa) led Drake with seven kills each.

Drake was held to a season-low .132 attack percentage by the Shocker defense. Wichita State hit .257 and was led by Emily Adney's 18 kills.

"One of the things we talked about before the match was applying constant pressure on the opposing team," head coach Phil McDaniel said. "We didn't apply the kind of pressure we were hoping to throughout the match."

Junior setter Caitlin Johnson (Sycamore, Ill.) was a bright spot with her ninth double-double of the season. Johnson finished the game with 11 digs and 16 assists.

"Defense was a big focus for us this week and she (Johnson) played well on the defensive side tonight," McDaniel added. "We ran a pretty good show up front, but we just couldn't get it all together."

The Bulldogs suffered a sweep and dropped back-to-back matches for the first time since last year's season-ending loss to Creighton Mar. 26 at the State Farm MVC Tournament.

Drake currently holds the sixth-place spot in the conference with a 3-4 MVC record.

"From three-though eight the race is tight and only the top six go," McDaniel said about the Valley standings. "Every match is important and we've got to pick it up to make sure we stay in the top six."

The Bulldogs host Missouri State tomorrow night at 7 p.m.