DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University volleyball team returns to the Knapp Center to start Missouri Valley Conference play against in-state foe and preseason MVC favorite, UNI, Friday night at 7 p.m. Tickets for the MVC opener for both teams are $6 and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN+
 
The Bulldogs begin conference action with an 11-3 record, but have dropped their last two matches to a pair of perennial NCAA Tournament teams in Kansas and Missouri. The team's only other loss came to Iowa as the Bulldogs have won three of the four non-conference tournaments they appeared in and finished second in the fourth.
 
UNI is 6-6 this season, but has faced a schedule that featured five matches against top-15 teams. The Panthers earned wins over No. 13 Creighton and No. 5 Kentucky to bolster the MVC's non-conference resume.
 
Drake's early season success has included the defense holding opponents to just .134 hitting, the eighth-best average in the nation and best in the Valley. The team also leads the league in blocks per set (2.46).
 
Last season, Drake assembled a 12-6 MVC record with two of those losses coming to UNI. However, the Bulldogs have won four-straight MVC openers, dating back to 2014.
 
Following Friday's match, Drake continues conference play against Evansville Monday, Sept. 24, in the Knapp Center at 7 p.m.