SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri State University volleyball team knocked off Drake University, 3-0, on Friday (Oct. 3) night at the Hammons Student Center. The Bears won by scores of 25-17, 25-10 and 25-18 over the Bulldogs to improve to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Bulldogs fall to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in MVC play.

Senior Amanda Platte (Mount Vernon, Iowa) paced Drake's offense with nine kills and a .400 hitting percentage as she continues to play well after coming back from an injury. Platte has smashed 35 kills in the last four matches.

In the opening set, Platte connected for her first kill to trim Drake's deficit to 4-3. It would be as close as the Bulldogs would be the rest of the frame as the Bears would take their largest lead, 23-14, on the way to the first set victory, 25-17.

Missouri State cruised in the second set as it never trailed and allowed just four kills by Drake. The Bears finished with 15 kills and just three attack errors as they won the second frame, 25-10.

Drake played better in the third set, which featured four lead changes and seven score ties. The Bulldogs grabbed a 14-13 lead after an attack error by the Bears. However, it would be the final lead of the set as Missouri State scored the next three points to go ahead, 16-14, and forced Drake to call a timeout. After the timeout the Bears extended their advantage to 21-16 as the Bulldogs called their final timeout. Missouri State closed out the match with a 25-18 third set decision.

Drake travels to Wichita State tomorrow night (Oct. 4) with first serve set for 7 p.m.