SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake University volleyball team put up a strong fight but could not slow down Missouri State in a 3-0 loss Sunday afternoon. With the win, the MSU clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and currently owns a 16-0 league record.
 
Drake dropped the contest by set scores a 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 to fall to 23-8 overall and 12-5 in the MVC.
 
Junior Cathryn Cheek (Coppell, Texas) paced the Bulldogs with 14 kills on 39 attempts, nine digs and four blocks. Senior Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) recorded another double-double with 10 kills and 21 digs while Gillian Gergen (Janesville, Iowa) had five kills and five blocks.
 
Missouri State was led by 20 kills from All-American Lily Johnson as the Bears hit .289 in the win.
 
After a close first set in which MSU never trailed but never led by more than six points, the Bulldogs put a charge into the Bears with a second set that featured five lead changes and 11 ties. However, Drake never led by more than two points before MSU pulled away for the 25-23 win. MSU maintained a lead for nearly all of the third set to hold off the Bulldogs for a 25-21 to remain undefeated in the MVC and win its 32^nd straight MVC match dating back to last season.
 
The Bulldogs return home to host their final regular-season match of the season Saturday, Nov. 18, when they welcome in-state foe UNI to the Knapp Center. First serve is set for 5 p.m. on The Valley on ESPN3.