CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – One week ago, the Drake University volleyball earned its first win over UNI since 1996. Friday evening the Bulldogs followed that with a 3-1 win in the rematch to earn their first regular-season sweep of the Panthers since 1982.
 
Drake prevailed by set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 11-25, 25-19 to improve to 4-0 this season and sit on top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings at 2-0.
 
"I'm very proud of our team tonight," said Drake head coach Darrin McBroom. "It was not a perfect match and they had to battle through some adversity to come back in the fourth set. But our senior leadership pulled this team together."
 
Sophomore Haley Bush led the Bulldogs' attack with 14 kills on 43 attempts with nine digs. Senior Emily Plock added 11 kills on 34 attempts. Caitlyn Smith fed the pair a steady diet of sets with 31 assists. She added 11 digs for her fourth-straight double-double.
 
Defensively, Kylee Macke matched a season-high with 18 digs while reigning MVC Freshman of the Week Jada Wills added 12. Fellow freshman Macy DeLeye led Drake at the net with a pair of blocks.
 
Drake hit .143 in the win and opened the match by hitting .269 in the opening set. After a brief lull in the third set, Drake rebounded from the setback to hit .273 in the fourth and decisive set.
 
UNI's Emily Holterhaus led all players with 16 kills while Carly Spies had six blocks.
 
The Bulldogs put their undefeated record on the line again Sunday when they face No. 25 Marquette at 5 p.m. in a neutral-site match in Cedar Falls, Iowa.