GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Drake volleyball team played a solid Saturday doubleheader to earn a runner-up finish at the Green Bay Invite. Drake battled North Dakota in a five-set loss (25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 11-15) to start the day before sweeping Western Illinois in the finale (25-9, 25-23, 25-21). The Bulldogs' record now sits at 9-4 prior to the start of conference play.
The day's first match was ultra-competitive as Drake fell to the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota in five sets. The Bulldogs took the first set will a solid all-around effort before slipping up in the next two and giving UND the advantage.
The Bulldogs fought back in the fourth set to even the match tally. Leading 20-17, Marian Rodrigues sparked a 5-1 run to end the set and force a fifth period. In the fifth, North Dakota got off to a great start and finish with a 5-0 flurry to win the match.
Rodrigues led all players with 21 kills.
Addison Beagle continued her prolific distribution with 43 assists while
Jada Wills, an eventual All-Tournament honoree, recorded 28 digs.
Drake ended the weekend with a convincing 3-0 sweep of Western Illinois. The Bulldogs got out to a blazing hot start with a 25-9 victory in the first set. In the first, Drake led by as many 17 points.
The Leathernecks bounced back and proved a much tougher challenge in the second and third sets. Despite WIU keeping things close, Drake was able to grind their way through two back-and-forth sets and secure the sweep.
Rodrigues and
Haley Bush topped the Drake roster with 11 kills apiece. Beagle provided another 38 assists while Wills added 13 more digs.
Ashlynn Kuhn, the Bulldogs' other All-Tournament team selection, played stifling defense with four blocks.
"I think we faced some healthy adversity this weekend. We didn't get all the wins we hoped for, but I hope we gained some experience that will help as we begin conference play," Drake head coach
Darrin McBroom explained. "We got to see some good things from a variety of players this weekend."
Drake will kick off Missouri Valley Conference play in their next match. The Bulldogs will travel to UIC for the first of four-straight road games to start MVC action. Drake and the Flames will face off on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
NOTES
- Three Bulldogs led all players vs. North Dakota in kills (Rodrigues, 21) assists (Beagle, 43), and digs (Wills, 28).
- Saturday's opening match was the Bulldogs' first five-set tilt since beating Wright State at the Cardinal & Gold Classic (Sept. 9).
- Drake's 2-2 record earned runner-up honors at the Green Bay Invite.
- Jada Wills and Ashlynn Kuhn were named to the All-Tournament Team.
