TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Drake University volleyball team showed strong resolve in rallying to win three-straight sets to defeat Indiana State, 3-2, Saturday evening at ISU Arena. 

Drake (12-10, 3-2 MVC) dropped the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-20, before taking the third set, 25-17, the fourth 25-21, and the decisive fifth set, 15-12, over Indiana State (12-7, 1-3 MVC).

“I'm really proud of our team tonight,” said Drake head coach Darrin McBroom. "It took a while to get going but we remained persistent throughout. ISU tore it up in the first two sets and then we made a strong defensive stand to slow them down. I'm so proud of how we persevered and stayed in it for the long haul tonight to get the win.”

That defense was led by Michelle Thommi's (Omaha, Neb.) 24 digs with Grace Schofield (Mundelein, Ill.) and Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) adding 14 and 11 digs, respectively. Schofield also had 12 kills for her third-straight double-double while Makena Schoene (Seattle, Wash.) had a game-high 17 kills. Schoene added seven blocks, as did Katie Dulek (Lenexa, Kan.). 

The Sycamores, led by Kynedi Nalls' 14 kills, hit .333 or better in the first two sets and then .100 or less in the following three sets as the Bulldog defense brought ISU's attack to a screeching halt. 

Trailing 2-0 in the match, the third set was knotted at 12-12 with Drake attempting to extend the match. Chandelle Davidson's (Gretna, Neb.) serving gave the Bulldogs a 3-point cushion and the Bulldogs closed the set on a 7-3 run to prevail, 25-17.

Drake trailed, 15-13, in the fourth set until a 5-0 Bulldog run flipped the tables on the Sycamores en route to the 25-21 set in.  

In the pivotal fifth set, ISU led 9-7 until three errors and an Inderski kill gave Drake an 11-10 lead. The Bulldogs would not relinquish that lead and a pair of kills from Schoene down the stretch pushed Drake past ISU, 15-12. 

The Bulldogs return home next to host league-leading Missouri State on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. Saturday match against Wichita State.