DES MOINES, Iowa -
Junior libero Sarah Madden delivered a career-high four service aces while
Bentley Mancini tallied 12 kills to lead the Drake University volleyball team to a 3-1 Missouri
Valley Conference victory over Evansville. The Bulldogs improved to 8-16
overall and 4-6 in the Valley. Game scores were 26-24, 25-17, 17-25, 25-18.
With Drake down 24-16 in the opening set, Madden (Van Meter,
Iowa/Adel-DeSoto-Minburn) served the Bulldogs to a 10-point rally for a
thrilling, 26-24 victory that ignited the Knapp Center crowd and left the
visiting Purple Aces stunned. Madden totaled two of her four aces during the
run, while freshman Erin Roggenburg (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) notched four kills.
"We told her to go for Aces, and go hard," said head coach
Tony Sunga of Madden. "She's gone on runs like that before, but probably not 10
in a row."
For Mancini (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley), it was
business-as-usual. The junior logged her third-straight match with
double-figure kills and leads Drake with 79 kills over the last eight matches.
"The rest of the team knows she's there," Sunga said. "She's
just finding a way to win."
Junior Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) matched Mancini
with 12 kills and added 19 digs for her ninth double-double of the season and
third in her last four matches. Senior setter Caitlin Johnson (Sycamore,
Ill./Sycamore) tallied 31 assists and 14 digs for her 11th
double-double of the year and fourth-straight.
The story, though, was Madden. The junior libero posted a
game-high 26 digs, in addition to her service numbers.
"She [Madden] gives us solid defense," Sunga said. "We
adjusted so she would get more balls on both sides. We know she'll be there. She's
very vocal and she gives us that extra edge."
The Bulldogs, winners of two of their last
three, will host Southern Illinois Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the annual "Dig
Pink" match. Drake will wear special pink uniforms and play on a pink court.
Three different varieties of pink t-shirts will be available for a minimum
three-dollar donation. In addition, an autographed pink volleyball will be
auctioned off during the game. All proceeds will benefit the Side Out
Foundation on behalf of Drake Volleyball. Finally, Bulldog players will sign
autographs after the match and free volleyball posters will be available.
