EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Drake University volleyball team defeated Evansville in five sets (21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 15-9) Saturday to earn its first Missouri Valley Conference victory of the season. The Bulldogs moved to 5-11 overall and 1-2 in the Valley.

Drake dropped the first set, 25-21, but rebounded to win game two and force a tie going into intermission.

"We played with a hard hat attitude," head coach Tony Sunga said. "Even though the first set went to Evansville, we pushed back when they put the pressure on. I was proud of that."

Emily Heffernen (Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware) and Whitney Westrum (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) helped power Drake to the second-game win, but Sunga spoke highly of one of his up-and-coming freshmen.

"Erin Roggenburg put forth a great effort," he said. "I was glad to see everyone contribute like that."

Roggenburg (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) delivered a career-high 12 kills, including four in the pivotal second game. Westrum led everyone with 16 kills and added 14 digs for her fifth double-double and third in her last four matches. Heffernen equaled Roggenburg with 12 kills.

The Bulldogs took the third set behind three kills each from Heffernen and Roggenburg and a team-best four kills by junior Bentley Mancini (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley).

Drake earned the win with a 15-9, fifth-set victory behind Westrum's three kills. The Purple Aces committed five attack errors in the fifth set, including their last on the final play of the match. Evansville committed 32 attack errors compared to Drake's 25.

"We pushed through a few hard rallies and maintained the lead in the end," Sunga added. "Even though it was the final set, we still played with that hard hat attitude."

Drake returns home from its season-long 10-match road swing to host Indiana State next Friday. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.