DRAKE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS | MEDIA RELEASE
 
CONTACT: Dave Shindelar, Drake Athletic Communications
david.shindelar@drake.edu
 
 
DRAKE WINS EIGHTH-STRAIGHT IN 3-1 TRIUMPH AT ILLINOIS STATE
 
 
NORMAL, Ill. – Drake volleyball earned their eighth win in a row tonight with a 3-1 triumph at Illinois State. The Bulldogs improved to 22-6 overall and 13-2 in MVC play in their season sweep of the Redbirds.
 
The Bulldogs continued where they left off in the first set. Drake rallied after Illinois State built a 5-3 lead to take an 11-8 advantage with an Ashlynn Kuhn kill. The Bulldogs continued to roll in the first set, finishing the frame on an 8-2 run. Mariana Rodrigues capped off the first set with a kill to take the lead in the match.
 
The Redbirds provided a bit more resistance in the second set as both teams traded blows through the early stages. After four lead changes, Drake took control with back-to-back kills by Taylor Oberpriller and Haley Bush. Despite a late charge by Illinois State, the Dogs would not surrender and took a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Illinois State finally got on the board in the third set, ending Drake's 22-set winning streak with a 25-23 win. Both squads continued to go back-and-forth, but a late rally including a Drake error and Kendee Hilliard kill ended the period.
 
Drake bounced back in the fourth set with another convincing performance. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the stanza before the host Redbirds came charging back. Drake was able to manage Illinois State's rally and regained control with a 9-2 run. The visiting Bulldogs eventually rambled off another 4-1 roll to end the set and end the match.
 
Haley Bush tied with Illinois State's Aida Shadewald with a match-high 17 kills. Drake's Mariana Rodrigues and Taylor Oberpriller posted 15 kills and 13 kills, respectively. Elsewhere, Addison Beagle distributed 55 assists and two service aces, both match-highs. Defensively, Ashlynn Kuhn led all players with six blocks while Jada Wills did the same with 25 digs.
 
Drake will return home next weekend to begin their final homestand of the 2022 season. The Bulldogs will host Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 11 and Southern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
"I'm glad we got the win tonight and we had some great individual performances," head coach Darrin McBroom said. "But as a team, we struggled in some areas. We have to get better…tonight exposed some things we need to work on, and we look forward to getting back into the gym and improving. It was also nice to finish our last regular season road trip [with a win]. We're looking forward to getting back to the Knapp and [in front of] our fans."
 
 
 
NOTES

• Illinois State ended Drake's 22-set win streak with a 25-23 victory in the third period.
• Ashlynn Kuhn's six kills led the Bulldogs for the second-straight night.
• Drake's win was just their 14th in the all-time series with Illinois State as the Redbirds lead the series 58-14.
• Addison Beagle's 55 assists were her second-most in a four-set match this year.