The Basics
Drake volleyball will continue their record-breaking season with another postseason match. The Bulldogs will host Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Knapp Center for a NIVC quarterfinal match.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake enters the NIVC quarterfinal round with a 28-7 overall record. Their 28 wins are the most in a single season in program history. The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 15 games, three of which have come in postseason play.
The duo of
Haley Bush and
Mariana Rodrigues lead the Bulldog offense with 489 kills and 453 kills, respectively. Bush is also near the top of Drake's stat sheet with 297 digs, 51 blocks, 25 service aces, and 15 assists.
The Drake offense is also bolstered by freshman sensation
Addison Beagle with a team-best 1,486 assists and 40 service aces. Beagle is also a key back row defender with 301 digs, the second-most on the Bulldog roster.
Defensively, libero
Jada Wills has been stellar with 675 digs this season. On the front row,
Kacie Rewerts continues to rack up rejections with 167 blocks to lead Drake and the MVC.
NIVC Recap
The Bulldogs made history this year with their first-ever postseason win to start NIVC play. Drake opened the tournament with a neutral site victory over Big Sky Conference runner-up Weber State in a thrilling five-set match.
Taylor Oberpriller had a career day in the Bulldogs' victory over Weber State with 28 kills.
Drake then picked up their second-ever postseason victory in a dominant sweep of Grand Canyon to advance to the quarterfinals.
Scouting Pacific
The Tigers come to Des Moines with an 18-13 overall record in the 2022 season. Pacific also posted an 8-10 mark in West Coast Conference play this year. The Tigers are currently riding a five-game winning streak including their first two NIVC matches. Pacific took down Omaha in a 3-1 affair in the opening round before beating Santa Clara by the same tally to reach the quarters.
The Pacific offensive attack boasts a balanced roster led by Alexa Edwards' 422 kills. Two other Tigers, Biamba Kabengele and Darina Kumanova, have also logged 200+ kills. Edwards and Kumanova also lead the Tigers on the service line with 54 aces and 53 aces, respectively.
Elsewhere, Pacific setter Jenna Heller has distributed 1,043 assists.
Defensively, Jadyn Tubbs and Heller have both recorded over 300 digs while Emily Van Groningen has amassed 47 blocks to lead the team.
The Tigers are led by head coach Greg Gibbons in his 13th season at the helm of the Pacific program. The Iowa State University graduate has built a career record of 245-197 and a 204-168 record during his time at Pacific.
Thursday's tilt will be the first-ever meeting between Drake and Pacific.
Up Next
The winner of Thursday's match will advance to the NIVC semifinals. Either Drake or Pacific will take on the winner of Davidson and UTRGV for a chance to reach the NIVC title game.
