The Drake University volleyball team begins its 2016 season this weekend with four games in Boca Raton, Fla., as part of a tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic University.
The Bulldogs open play on Friday, Aug. 26, morning at 9 a.m. Against Northeastern, followed by a 1:30 p.m. match versus North Florida. Play resumes on Saturday, Aug. 27, against the host, FAU at 3:30 p.m. with the final match of the weekend coming at 3:30 p.m. Against Bethune-Cookman.
The team will be looking to continue its trend of strong play to open the season as the Bulldogs have gone 7-0 in their last two season opening tournaments under fourth-year head coach Darrin McBroom. Last season, the team rattled off four wins to claim the WIU Tournament title after winning three matches to open the 2014 season with a tournament title at Omaha.
That WIU Tournament title to open the 2015 season helped propel the Bulldogs to a 15-20 record and a 6-12 record in MVC action to narrowly miss earning an MVC Tournament berth in seventh place. The team's 15 wins were its most since the 2010 season and the team returns three hitters that recorded more than 200 kills last season.
Junior Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) leads that group after posting 350 kills in 2015 as did senior Makena Schoene (Seattle, Wash.). Sophomore Grace Schofield (Mundelein, Ill.) also returns after an impressive freshman season in which she notched 249 kills. Setter Chandelle Davidson (Gretna, Neb.) also returns at setter after posting 591 assists while splitting time at the position. The team's defense is bolstered by veteran libero Michelle Thommi (Omaha, Neb.) who led the team in digs with 453 in 2015.
Added to that group are five talented newcomers that McBroom anticipates will continue to elevate the Bulldogs' on-court performance as the season progresses.
Following this weekend's games, the team returns to its home court on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for its home opener against South Dakota State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Knapp Center.
