WICHITA, Kan. – Drake volleyball continued their march through the NIVC with a dominant three-set win over the Antelopes of Grand Canyon. Drake improved to 28-7 overall for the 2022 season and earned their second-ever postseason win.
 
Despite falling behind in the opening set, the Bulldogs bounced back to take first period 25-18 behind a balanced offensive attack. The Bulldogs took their first lead of the match with an Antelope error. Drake continued with a 4-1 run capped off by a Haley Bush kill to take a 16-12 advantage before closing the frame on a hot streak.
 
The second set was much of the same as Drake opened an 8-5 lead in the opening stages. Kacie Rewerts and Taylor Oberpriller went back-to-back-to-back to extend their lead to six points. Drake eventually closed the second set on another roll, earning their second-straight 25-18 victory.
 
Grand Canyon provided their most serious challenge in the third set. The Antelopes leapt out to a 9-4 lead punctuated by two McKenzie Wise kills. GCU led by as many as eight points before the Bulldogs turned it on. Haley Bush rattled off three-consecutive kills to get within one. Later in the set, trailing 23-20, Drake exploded with a 5-0 rally including three-straight Grand Canyon errors to end the match.
 
Haley Bush led all players with 17 kills and added a team-high 14 digs. Mariana Rodrigues chipped in with a solid 12 kills. Addison Beagle distributed 39 assists in the sweep.
 
On defense, Ashlynn Kuhn's four blocks while Jada Wills added a dozen digs.
 
"I'm really proud of our team tonight," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said. "Grand Canyon is a successful program loaded with talent. We knew it would require our best [effort] tonight and all our players stepped up and did their part. They deserved this win and I'm really proud of them."

Drake will return to Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. at 6 p.m. for the NIVC quarterfinals. The Bulldogs will host Pacific out of the West Coast Conference in a pivotal postseason battle.
 
Tickets for the NIVC quarterfinal match versus Pacific are available at draketix.com/volleyball.
 
NOTES

• The 3-0 victory was Drake's second postseason win in program history.
• Drake's win was their first-ever over Grand Canyon.
• Drake added to its record-breaking season with the team's 28th win.
• Haley Bush posted a double-double, her 14th of the season, with a match-high 17 kills and 14 digs.
• Addison Beagle led all players with 39 assists.
• Ashlynn Kuhn's four blocks paced all defenders.