The Basics
Drake volleyball is in uncharted territory as the Bulldogs are set for their NIVC semifinal match this weekend. Head coach Darrin McBroom and his record-setting club will take flight to Davidson, N.C. for a postseason battle with the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday, Dec. 11 at noon.
 
NIVC Recap
Drake's NIVC journey has added to the Bulldogs' historic season. The Dogs opened NIVC play with a pair of neutral site matches in Wichita, Kan. Drake was nearly eliminated by Weber State in a five-set thriller but found a way to pick up the program's first-ever postseason win. The Bulldogs then bounced back with a sweep of Grand Canyon to reach the semifinals. Drake's postseason march continued with another sweep of Pacific in their first-ever home postseason victory.
 
Davidson has experienced a very similar postseason path. The Wildcats opened NIVC play with a five-set win over North Dakota State in Winston-Salem, N.C. Davidson then took down the pod host and in-state rival Wake Forest by the same score. The Wildcats qualified for the NIVC semifinals with a 3-0 sweep of UTRGV at home.
 
Winning Time
Drake has put together an awe-inspiring 2022 campaign. After some early stumbles, the Bulldogs rolled through Missouri Valley Conference play with 14 wins in 15 matches. Drake's 29 wins are the most in a single season in program history.
 
Fantastic Freshman
Bulldog setter Addison Beagle has had a sensational debut season. The Liberty, Mo. native leads Drake with 1,513 assists, the most of any freshman in Division I women's volleyball. Her assist total is the highest number in a single season in Drake volleyball history.
 
The 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year also leads Drake with 40 service aces and has recorded 305 digs on the defensive side of the net.
 
Player of the Year
Haley Bush has been Drake's shining star during the 2022 season. The senior outside hitter was named MVC Player of the Year for the second time in her career.
 
While falling among the Bulldog leaders for digs (306), blocks (53), and aces (25), Bush paces the team with 496 kills, a single-season program record. She is just four kills shy of the 500-mark and would become the first player in Drake history to eclipse that mark.
 
Defensive Dynamo
Drake boasts not only a potent offense but also a stifling defensive lineup. The Bulldog defense is led by front row phenom Kacie Rewerts. The junior middle blocker led the MVC during the regular season and is currently tied for 11th nationally with 175 total blocks this season.
 
In the Bulldogs' quarterfinal win over Pacific, Rewerts logged eight block assists to eclipse the 300 career block assists mark.
 
Hometown Team
Another layer to Drake's exceptional season came in the friendly confines of the Knapp Center. In 10 home matches during the 2022 campaign, the Bulldogs won all 10 and dropped just two sets. Eight of Drake's 18 sweeps have come at home.
 
Scouting Davidson
Davidson enters the weekend with a 23-10 overall record. The Wildcats also put together a 14-4 run in the Atlantic 10 Conference and finished at the league's runner-up. Davidson enjoyed a winning streak as long as seven matches during the 2022 season. Their chances at a NCAA Tournament berth were halted by third-seeded Dayton in the quarterfinals A-10 Tournament.
 
Davidson's stat sheet includes a balanced attack on both the offensive and defensive side of the net. Isabel Decker leads the Wildcats as the only player with 300+ kills, 320 to be exact. Decker also has the second-most digs with 307 and service aces with 32. Jessie Doyal and Xuan Nguyen have been solid setters for the the Wildcats with 608 assists and 591 assists, respectively.
 
Bella Brady is a key contributor on both ends with team-highs in aces with 42 and digs with 602. Anela Davis has also been a stalwart on the front line of the Wildcat defense with 154 blocks.
 
After seven seasons at Division II Missouri Southern State, Chris Willis moved on to become the Davidson volleyball head coach. Willis has amassed a record of 139-182 in his 12 seasons leading the Wildcat program.
 
While both football teams have shared history on the gridiron, Sunday's matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Davidson and Drake on the volleyball court.

Up Next
The winner of Sunday's semifinal match between Drake and Davidson will advance to the 2022 NIVC Championship to take on the winner of Boston College and Southern Miss in the other semifinal. The NIVC title match location has yet to be determined.