The Drake University volleyball team opened up Missouri Valley Conference play in convincing fashion with a 3-0 sweep against Illinois State, the defending league champions.
 
Led by four players with 10 kills, Drake swept the Redbirds by set scores of 25-20, 25-22, 25-18 to improve to 6-3 on the season.
 
Drake hit .264 as a team while holding Illinois State to .127 hitting. The Redbirds are the fourth-straight opponent Drake has held to .140 or less hitting.
 
MVC Freshman of the Week Ashlynn Kuhn and Kacie Rewerts led that defensive effort with three blocks each while Kylee Macke had a game-high 16 digs.
 
On offense for the Bulldogs, Kuhn, Emily Plock, Mariana Rodrigues and Haley Bush all had 10 kills. Rodrigues' total came on just 22 attempts as she hit .364 off the bench.
 
Splitting duties guiding the offense, setters Caitlyn Smith and Maddie Holt had 19 and 18 assists, respectively.
 
Illinois State (4-9, 0-1 MVC) was led by Tamara Otene's 14 kills as the Redbirds fell to Drake for the first time since 2017.
 
The Bulldogs wrap up the season opening MVC series Saturday against Bradley at 6 p.m. in the Knapp Center. The Braves lost at UNI, 3-0, in their league opener Friday.