DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball won their third-consecutive match and first at home this evening in a three-set sweep of Illinois State. The Bulldogs' victory added to their record which is now 13-5 overall and 4-1 in MVC action. Illinois State has fallen below the .500-mark at 8-9 overall and 1-5 in league play.
 
Both teams started the match by trading early runs. Drake scored the first two points of the match before Illinois State rattled off three unanswered. Both teams then went back-and-forth until Haley Bush delivered a kill to go up 13-6. The Dogs never looked back in the first set and secured a 25-20 win.
 
The Redbirds came out swinging in the second set with increased energy and matched the Bulldogs' productivity. Trailing 12-6, Sarah Kushner and Hannah Reichensperger collaborated on a block to spur a 3-0 rally. Illinois State then went on another 4-0 run later in the set to knot the score at 20-20. Both squads traded jabs until Kacie Rewerts and Taylor Oberpriller recorded consecutive kills to earn the set win.
 
Illinois State would not go away quietly, however, with another solid performance in the third set. The Redbirds led 17-13 before a key injury caused a stoppage in play and allowed the Bulldogs to regroup. Drake then scored seven unanswered points to take a 20-17 advantage and held on for the straight-set triumph.
 
Haley Bush led all players with 16 kills and added six digs. Elsewhere, Addison Beagle chipped in with an even 30 assists while Gabbie Schroeder notched a trio of service aces. Defensively, Jada Wills led the Bulldogs with 13 digs while Kacie Rewerts had a team-high four blocks.
 
"I'm happy to get a win, the first win in the new Knapp Center," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said after the victory. "The fans and the crowd were awesome, [we had] an amazing Drake community supporting our team. Illinois State is a tough program, always a perennial power in The Valley, so it means a lot to beat them. We do still have things to get better at and work on, though."
 
The Bulldogs will conclude their week of action tomorrow evening with another home match against Bradley at 6 p.m.
 
Notes
 

• Haley Bush's 16 kills propelled her into 10th-place on Drake's all-time career kills list. She now has 1,022 career kills.
• Friday's win was Drake's sixth victory by sweep of the season and their first in conference play. The Bulldogs last swept an opponent since taking down Western Illinois in the final match of the Green Bay Invite (9/17)