DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University volleyball team nearly rallied from a 2-0 deficit to Wichita State on Friday night, but the Shockers held off the Bulldogs for a 3-1 victory at the Knapp Center.

Wichita State won by scores of 26-24, 25-18, 26-28 and 25-19 to improve its record to 15-7 and 9-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The loss drops Drake to 9-13 overall and 1-10 in the MVC.

Freshman Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) and sophomore Makena Schoene (Seattle, Wash.) each connected for 14 kills to pace the offensive attack for the Bulldogs, while senior Amanda Platte (Mount Vernon, Iowa) added 13 kills. Inderski chipped in 18 digs for her eighth double-double of the year.

The Bulldogs held an early 10-8 advantage in the opening set, and later extended their lead to 17-14 as Wichita State used its final timeout of the frame. Drake held match point at 24-23 after a kill by Schoene. However, Wichita State scored three-straight points, including two kills by Ashlyn Driskill, for the opening set victory, 26-24.

In set two, Wichita State went ahead 17-11 as Drake called its final timeout. The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 20-16, as the Shockers called their first timeout. Wichita State pulled away after the timeout as it claimed set two, 25-18.

After the halftime break, the third set was controlled early by Wichita State as it led 18-13, and later, 21-17, as Drake called its final timeout. Trailing 23-19, the Bulldogs roared back to even the score at 23-23, as Wichita State used its first timeout. The Shockers held two different match point advantages, but the Bulldogs were resilient as they scored three consecutive points to force set four. Inderski and Platte connected for five and four kills, respectively, in the set to aid the comeback victory, 28-26.

Drake grabbed control early in the fourth set as it built an 8-5 lead as Wichita State quickly called timeout. After the timeout, the Shockers swung the momentum as they tied the set at 13-13. This time it was the Bulldogs turn to use a timeout. The teams traded points after the timeout, as the score was 16-16 after a kill by Kelly Shute (Dana Point, Calif.). However, Wichita State ripped off seven straight points to help it pull away for the 25-19 win and the match.

Shute earned her first career start tonight and finished with six kills and zero attack errors along with three block assists. Drake took a set from Wichita State for the first time in 12 matches.

Drake returns to the court tomorrow night (Nov. 1) as Missouri State visits the Knapp Center with first serve with the Bears scheduled for 7 p.m.