DES MOINES, Iowa - Despite a career-high 21 kills from Drake's Cathryn Cheek (Coppell, Texas), visiting Illinois State outlasted the Drake University volleyball team, 3-1, Saturday evening at the Knapp Center.

Illinois State prevailed by set scores of 25-19, 25-22, 27-29, 25-20.

Cheek's 21 kills matched her career high, set twice previously, and came on 50 attacks. She also added 18 digs for her second-straight double-double. Grace Schofield (Mundelein, Ill.) also added a double-double with 15 kills and 18 digs. Kylee Macke (Ankeny, Iowa) also added 18 digs on a night the Bulldogs' recorded 92 digs as a team.

Illinois State (13-5, 5-1 MVC) held on to second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings thanks to 20 kills from Kaylee Martin as the Redbirds outhit Drake (14-6, 3-3 MVC) .197-.087 and held a 15-7 advantage in blocks thanks to eight blocks assists from Marissa Stockman.

"We played well at times tonight," said Drake head coach Darrin McBroom. "But against a team as strong as Illinois State, we needed to be more consistent and more terminal offensively. We showed we have the capability to do that and need to work on bringing that to every set and rally."

After Illinois State opened with a 25-19 set one win, Drake held an 18-15 advantage late in the second set before the Redbirds closed the set on a 10-4 run to win, 25-22. All four of the Bulldogs' points during that run came via Redbird errors.

However, Drake did not fold following that rally and took the extended third set in thrilling fashion, 29-27. Drake held a 21-17 lead before Illinois State rallied to tie the set at 23-23. Drake would not surrender the lead before eventually building a two-point lead off back-to-back kills from Schofield to take the set.

Unfortunately for Drake, it could not maintain that momentum in the third set as Illinois State rolled out to a 7-1 lead. Drake briefly tied the set at 13-13 but could not get any closer, falling 25-20 in the set to close the match.

The Bulldogs will have the opportunity to rebound from the loss quickly. The team returns to the Knapp Center to host Indiana State Monday, Sept. 8, evening at 6 p.m.