DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University volleyball team earned a quick 3-0 win over Southern Illinois Friday evening to keep its Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hopes alive.
 
The Bulldogs defeated SIU by set scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-18.
 
Cathryn Cheek (Coppell, Texas), Elle Tubbs (Clinton, Iowa) and Emily Plock (Altoona, Iowa) all tallied double-digit kills with 15, 11 and 11, respectively. Cheek's performance marked her 12th-straight game with double-figure kills as she needed just 35 attempts on the night. She also added 12 digs for her third-straight double-double.
 
Natalie Fry (Allen, Texas) hit .471 with Tubbs not far behind at .429 to help the Bulldogs outhit the Salukis, .289-.183, and end the team's five-game MVC skid.
 
Rachel Maguire led SIU (5-23, 1-14 MVC) with nine kills on 29 attempts.
 
Drake (18-12, 6-9 MVC) led for the entire first set to establish an early tone in the game and had a 20-15 lead in the second set before SIU inched within three points. However, two kills from Fry helped the Bulldogs take the set, 25-21, and a quick 2-0 lead in the match. Drake dominated the end of the final set, closing the frame on a 9-2 run while holding SIU to just .026 hitting in the set to coast to the 25-18 win in the final set.
 
The Bulldogs return to the Knapp Center for their last home game, Saturday, Nov. 10, when they face Missouri State at 7 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.