DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball picked up another 3-0 victory this evening with a sweep of MVC foe Missouri State (25-17, 25-16, 25-16). Drake's win was their ninth in-a-row and 13th in their last 14 contests.
The Bulldogs saw early success in the first set with a quick 10-4 run to start the match. The Bears rallied in the first frame to draw within four points after a Manuela Ibarguen kill, but the visitors could not continue their charge. Drake retook control of the set with ended the first set on a 4-1 run capped off by an Addison Beagle service ace.
Drake had similar success in the second set with another early lead, this time a 9-4 tally. Again, Missouri State did enough to keep it close in the middle stages of the match, drawing within three points after a Jaycee Fixsen kill. Drake then regained the momentum with a quick 3-0 rally including two Bear errors and a kill by
Mariana Rodrigues. The Bulldogs extended their lead and finished off the set, 25-16.
The Bears came out with increased energy in the third set, taking their just their lead of the match, 2-1. Drake immediately thwarted any momentum, though, with a timely challenge by head coach
Darrin McBroom and a lightning fast 4-0 run. Drake built another 10-4 lead after a Rodrigues score and continued to march towards their ninth-consecutive win. In the closing moments, the Bulldogs rambled off four points to the Bears' one including three from Rodrigues to win the set 25-16 and claim the match win.
Mariana Rodrigues' 19 kills led all players.
Haley Bush also logged double-digit kills with 12. Addison Beagle distributed 38 assists while libero
Jada Wills recorded 20 digs. Elsewhere,
Kacie Rewerts led the match with a pair of service aces and six blocks.
"I'm really proud of our team tonight," Drake head coach
Darrin McBroom said following the win, "We needed to come out and win and we came ready to play. We were strong from the service line, our defense played well...just a consistent, sound game. We've really been working on defense since some early troubles this season, shoring up that area with Kacie [Rewerts] and others on the front line and [Haley] Bush and others in the back."
Drake will conclude their back-to-back weekend matches with another home tilt tomorrow evening. The Bulldogs will host Southern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
NOTES
- Drake's win was just their 12th all-time over Missouri State. The Bears lead the series 54-12.
- The Bulldogs are now 23-6 overall and 14-2 in Missouri Valley play.
- Mariana Rodrigues' 19 kills matches her best single-game performance in MVC play.
- Haley Bush recorded more digs (15) than kills (12) for the first time in conference play and second time overall this season.
- Addison Beagle equaled her best three-set outing with 38 assists.
