DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball earned its 10th-straight win and 14th victory in their last 15 tries. The Bulldogs overcame two tightly contested opening sets to secure a three-set sweep (25-20, 25-23, 25-17).
 
Southern Illinois came to play on Saturday evening after pushing conference champion UNI to five sets the previous night. The Salukis fought back after trailing 5-3 to take a 9-7 advantage. Drake was able to battle back to recapture control of the period with a 6-1 rally capped off including four kills by Haley Bush. Drake held firm through the rest of the set to win the frame 25-20.
 
Southern Illinois jumped out front in the second set with a Tatum Tornatta kill. The Bulldogs and Salukis traded blows through much of the period with neither team holding a lead larger than three points. Tied at 22 apiece, Bush was able to rattle off back-to-back kills before a Saliki error gave Drake the 25-23 victory.
 
Finally, in the third set, Drake gathered all the momentum early and never relinquished. The Bulldogs led by as many as seven points after an early 6-0 roll. SIU managed a miniature rally in the final stages but could not put enough scores together to keep up as Drake secure the sweep with a 25-17 third set.
 
As a team, Drake hit at a remarkable .390 clip, their best single-match percentage of the season.
 
Mariana Rodrigues, one of Drake's two seniors to be recognized following the match along with Haylee Kent, logged a match-high 20 kills, her fourth 20+ kill effort of the season. Bush also had a great offensive night with 17 kills while collecting 10 digs. Setter Addison Beagle dished out 47 assists, her most in a three-set match this year. Defensively, Jada Wills led both teams with 23 digs while Kacie Rewerts and Taylor Oberpriller combined for seven blocks.
 
"SIU is one of the top offenses in the league and weknew it would be a battle," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said. "You can see the hitting percentages show that. We asked our defensive players to slow SIU's offense down as best they could and for our offense to keep it running. Mariana [Rodrigues] came out of the gate on fire, really this whole weekend. She's just playing with so much poise and confidence right now."
 
"UNI is a perennial power in this league and it's always a battle between us." McBroom said of the Bulldogs' next match. "I have no doubt that it will be a very intense, competitive game on Wednesday."
 
Drake will conclude their regular season slate on Wednesday, Nov. 16 with a rematch against Northern Iowa. The Bulldogs and Panthers will start their brawl at 6 p.m. in the Knapp Center.
 
 
NOTES

• Southern Illinois now leads the all-time series by a 42-27 margin.
• Drake extended their winning streak to 10 games.
• The Bulldogs have not dropped a set in five-straight home matches.
• Mariana Rodrigues' 20 kills marked her fourth match with at least that output.
• Addison Beagle's 47 assists were her most in a three-set match this year.
• Drake's .390 team hitting percentage was their best in a single-match this season.