TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Drake University volleyball team rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Indiana State 3-2 and earn a two-match sweep of the Sycamores Monday afternoon.
 
Drake (10-5, 8-4 MVC) fell behind in the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-20. However, the Bulldogs fought back with 25-21, 25-22 and 15-8 wins in the final three sets to claim the victory.
 
Lindsey Pliapol had a career game with 20 kills on 48 swings while Haley Bush added 18 kills and Emily Plock 16. Caitlyn Smith fed those three hitters with 58 assists to equal a career high.
 
Defensively, Kylee Macke had 27 digs while Jada Wills had a career-best 21. Senior Gillian Gergen dominated at the net with five blocks while Macy DeLeye, in her return to the lineup added five blocks.
 
Drake held 22-16 lead in the third set, but Indiana State (6-9, 6-8 MVC) tried to end the match with a 5-0 run to pull within a point. However, Drake closed with three-straight points to force a fourth set.
 
The fourth frame was a back-and-forth affair early until ISU took an 18-14 lead.  The Sycamores held that lead until four-straight Drake points put the Bulldogs up 22-21. Drake once again closed the set with three-straight points and a Pliapol kill to force the winner-take-all fifth set.
 
Neither team led by more than two points in the fifth set until Drake went on a 5-0 run with two kills from Pliapol to take a 12-7 lead. That lead was never challenged as the Bulldogs closed the set with another 3-0 run behind two kills from Pliapol to complete the come-from-behind win.
 
The Bulldogs return home next weekend to host SIU March 21 at 2 p.m. and March 22 at 5 p.m. in the team's final home series of the season.