DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University volleyball team lost a three-set match to Missouri State University on Friday night at the Knapp Center. The Lady Bears won 25-14, 25-21 and 25-17.

Drake (2-13, 0-3 MVC) was led by sophomore Cassie Effken (Lincoln, Neb.), who hit .292 and finished with 10 kills. Junior Amanda Platte (Mount Vernon, Iowa) had eight kills, while freshman Capris Quaites (Omaha, Neb.) and Tegan LaBerge (Maple Grove, Minn.) each recorded five. Effken added four blocks and two digs.

Missouri State (9-5, 1-1 MVC) hit .333 and had double-digit kill efforts from Kayla Walton and Olivia Brand, who had 13 and 10 kills, respectively.

The Lady Bears took the first set, 25-14, using a 12-3 run to close the set after a back and forth start. Drake called a timeout with the score 17-11, but had difficulties breaking the Bears' run. Effken led the Bulldogs' attack in the frame recording four kills, while Sarah Madden (Van Meter, Iowa) had six digs to pace the defense. Missouri State hit at a .467 clip as a team and was 78 percent on side-out chances.

After Drake held steady with Missouri State to start the second set, the Bears used another strong hitting performance to take a 21-15 advantage forcing a Bulldog timeout. Drake responded with a 6-2 run to close the gap to 23-21, but the Bears pushed through and took the set by a score of 25-21. Effken and Platte led Drake's offense with five and four kills, respectively. Madden had seven digs to help bring Drake during their scoring run.

Although Missouri State had a quick start to the third set, the Bulldogs went on a 5-3 run, forcing the Bears to take a timeout with the score at 11-8. Drake could not keep up with the Bears, however, as Missouri State jumped out to a 17-11 lead following the timeout to put Drake on the ropes. The Bears closed out the set, 25-17, to take the match.

Sophomore Rebecca Brown (Bentonville, Ark.) had 26 assists and senior Madden combated the Bears' attack with 15 digs.

The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow night as they welcome Wichita State to the Knapp Center at 7 p.m.