DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball earned their second win in as many nights with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Flames of UIC (25-20, 25-21, 26-24). The Bulldogs fought a scrappy Flames club through three sets before earning the win and improving to 16-6 overall and 7-2 in MVC play. UIC is now 13-8 overall and 5-4 in conference.
 
All three sets began in similar fashion with both teams trading scores early in the periods. The Flames gained the initial advantage with a 4-0 run in the first set to go up 6-4. Drake rallied to regain the lead before the dance restarted. Eventually, The Bulldogs were able to find some footing and take a 22-17 lead. They held on in the first to win 25-20.
 
UIC also got off to a solid start in the second set with a 5-1 run to take a one-point advantage. Similarly, the Bulldogs were able to chip away in a back-and-forth period before rattling off five unanswered points of their own to go up 17-13. Drake held on again to take the set 25-21.
 
The third set saw the most dramatic action of the night. UIC jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Drake rolled three points off to tie it. The two squads traded points the remainder of the period until Drake forced extra time with a Mariana Rodrigues kill. The Bulldogs then put the hammer down with another Rodrigues score and an attack error by the Flames' Cleo Lorenzo to seal the sweep.
 
Haley Bush led all players with 27 kills, a new season high. Rodrigues added 17 kills. Taylor Oberpriller provided stifling defense with a match-high four blocks while Jada Wills added defensive numbers on the back row with 21 digs. Freshman Addison Beagle continued her stellar rookie campaign with 42 assists.
 
"Our outsides did an amazing job scoring for us tonight," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom expressed after the victory. "Haley Bush and Mariana Rodrigues carried us through the match with Addison doing a great job running the offense. It's great getting back-to-back wins on back-to-back home weekend and being back in sole second place, but we still have some room to get better at finishing."
 
For their next matches, Bulldogs will travel to Evansville and Indiana State next weekend for two more MVC opportunities.
 
 
NOTES

• Haley Bush recorded a season-high 27 kills.
• Drake's weekend sweep over Valparaiso and UIC marked the second-straight home back-to-back without a loss.
• Saturday's win marked the only match this season that Drake did not record a service ace.