DES MOINES, Iowa – Visiting Valparaiso rallied to win the final two sets in a five-set defeat of the Drake University volleyball team Monday evening at the Knapp Center. Drake's Haley Bush led all hitters with a career-high 30 kills while hitting .303 in the 3-2 loss.
 
Valparaiso (6-6, 5-5 MVC) pushed past Drake by set scores of 25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 29-27, 15-13 behind 26 kills from Jillie Grant. 
 
In addition to Bush's career night for Drake (6-5, 4-4 MVC) that was just five kills shy of the school record, Emily Plock and Jada Wills added 10 kills each. Behind freshman Kacie Rewerts' career-high eight blocks, the Bulldogs out-blocked Valpo 16-6. Gillian Gergen added four blocks on defense, while Kylee Macke and Plock combined for 55 digs.
 
Caitlyn Smith also equaled a career-high in assists for the Bulldogs with 54 in the five sets. 
 
Drake took a 2-1 lead in the match after hitting .327 in the third set with Wills' six kills leading the way as Drake closed the frame on a 7-2 run behind Smith's serving. The Bulldogs trailed early in the fourth set, but behind Plock's serving late, they turned a two-point deficit into a 20-18 lead. Drake reached match point three times down the stretch but could not convert as Valpo close the set with three-straight points to force a decisive fifth set. 
 
In the final frame, Drake built an early 8-3 lead, but Valpo closed on a 12-5 tear that included six kills from Haley Hart, who finished with 16 kills. 
 
Drake remains at home for its next MVC series against Evansville, March 7-8 at the Knapp Center.