Saturday, August 27, 2011

CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Drake University volleyball team dropped its final two matches at the Crystal Inn Thunderbird Invitational, Saturday, falling 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-22) to Utah State and dropping a 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 14-16) decision to Boise State. The losses put the Bulldogs at 1-2 overall.

Seniors Michelle Reidy (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert) and Mikayla Sims (Waterloo, Iowa/East) tallied 22 and 17 kills, respectively, to lead the Drake offense on the day. Sims totaled a career-high 17 kills against Boise State.

Senior setter Caitlin Johnson (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore Community) registered 48 assists against the Broncos, one short of a career high.

Boise State forced a decisive fifth set after tying the match, 2-2, with a 25-19 fourth-set victory. A kill by freshman Amanda Platte (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) tied the score at 14-14, but two-straight attacking errors by Drake gave the Broncos the victory. Platte totaled five kills and three block assists in the match.

The Bulldogs committed 31 attack errors compared to just 14 for Utah State in the day's opening match - a 3-0 defeat. All-American outside hitter Liz McArthur registered a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Junior Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) led Drake with nine kills and added eight digs.

The Bulldogs return home to host the Sheraton West Des Moines Drake Invitational, Sept. 2-3. IPFW, UW-Milwaukee and head coach Tony Sunga's former team, Wyoming, will compete in the invitational.