DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball secured their 20th win of the season this evening with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Murray State Racers (25-16, 25-22, 25-9). The Bulldogs' win marked their fifth-straight sweep and sixth-straight victory overall.
 
Drake continued their winning streak as they have been, with early success in all three sets. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the opening frame before Murray State was able to collect themselves. Drake eventually extended their lead to 16-8 after two Racer errors and kills by Haley Bush and Ashlynn Kuhn. Drake ran through the remainder of the set for a 25-16 win.
 
The Bulldogs benefitted from another quick start in the second set, opening with their second-straight 7-1 run. The stanza seemed to be well in control when Drake led 20-12, but the Racers fought back. Trailing 24-17 and just a point from going down 2-0 in the match, Murray State rambled off four unanswered points to trim the margin to just two. Drake did not fold from the pressure, however, as Mariana Rodrigues blasted the set-winning kill to reach the 25-22 final.
 
All of Murray State's energy evaporated after suffering the deflating set two defeat. Drake was able to take advantage of their momentum and opened the third set on an incredible 15-1 run. Murray State managed a 4-0 rally to show some life but could not continue their comeback as the Dogs controlled the set, 25-9.
 
Mariana Rodrigues led all players with 11 kills followed by Bush and Taylor Oberpriller with 10. Addison Beagle added 26 assists and four service aces, the most for any player in both categories. Defensively, Gabbie Schroeder's 13 digs paced the match while Kacie Rewerts dominated the net with eight blocks.
 
"It's been a great weekend at home," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said after the victory. "It's nice to get the 20th win tonight and I'm really happy with how we came out strong in each set. We never had a slow start. I liked how we responded in the third set after we let them come back on us in the second [set]."
 
Drake next two matches will be on the road for their final test away from home during the 2022 regular season. The Bulldogs will finish the season series with Bradley and Illinois State on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5, respectively.
 
 
Notes

• Drake's 25-9 win in the third set matched their largest single-set margin of victory of the season. The other instance occurred in a neutral site match against Western Illinois (9/17)
• The Bulldogs' 12 blocks matched the team's second-most single-match blocking display (vs. Iowa, 9/10)
• Drake's win marked their first 20-win season since going 21-15 in 2018 and first 11-win MVC season since the 2020-21 campaign.
• Drake scored 10 services aces, the team's highest output of the year.