Skip To Main Content

Drake University Athletics

Schedule

Events

Results

Composite Calendar
DES MOINES, IA - DECEMBER 22: The Drake Bulldogs play against the Northern Iowa Panthers during a Missouri Valley Conference volleyball match at Knapp Center on Friday, January 22, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Dylan Heuer)
Dylan Heuer
1
UNI UNI 0-1,0-1 MVC
3
Winner Drake DRA 1-0,1-0 MVC
UNI UNI
0-1,0-1 MVC
1
Final
3
Drake DRA
1-0,1-0 MVC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UNI UNI 24 25 15 18 (1)
Drake DRA 26 20 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Drake Athletic Communications

Volleyball Opens Season With A Historic Win Over UNI

Plock moves into the all-time top-10 in career kills as Drake ends a 47-match streak.

The Drake University volleyball team opened the 2021 season by shattering a 47-match, 25-year streak with a 3-1 win over UNI Friday evening at the Knapp Center.
 
The Bulldogs prevailed over their in-state rivals by set scores of 26-24, 20-25, 25-15, 25-18, to open the season and Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
The victory was the first for Drake in the series since Nov. 23, 1996 – a span that lasted 47 total matches.
 
"This is a big win for our program," said Drake head coach Darrin McBroom. "I am really proud of how our players dealt with adversity and battled through the match. I also want to thank all of our fans who came out tonight in the COVID era to experience and enjoy this win with us."
 
Senior Emily Plock led the Bulldogs in breaking the streak with 19 kills on 43 attempts with 15 digs. Her 19 kills moved her into 10th all-time in career kills at Drake with 982.
 
Freshman Jada Wills made her Drake debut with 16 kills and 13 digs. Setter Caitlyn Smith paced the offense with 44 assists.
 
At the net, senior Gillian Gergen had six blocks while Plock added four. The pair also combined on the game-winning block in the fourth set to give the Bulldogs the victory.
 
"I think we can definitely use this game to build upon this season," McBroom said. "UNI is always a very tough match. To be able to go head-to-head with them and pull off the win says a lot about our players and the progress we have seen in this program."
 
UNI got 12 kills from Emily Holterhaus and 10 from Kaylissa Arndorfer. Drake's defense held UNI to just .110 hitting.
 
Drake convincingly won the final two sets, hitting above .200 in both sets and siding-out at a 66 percent or better clip.
 
The Bulldogs continue their three-game season-opening homestand Saturday afternoon against Western Illinois at 2 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3. A total of 225 fans attended Friday's match in socially distanced pod. A limited number of fans will be admitted for the remainder of the series. For more information on attendance and ticketing policies, visit DrakeTix.com.
 
Print Friendly Version