Ames, Iowa – The Drake University volleyball team nearly forced set five but fell in four sets at Iowa State inside Hilton Coliseum to open the Cardinal & Gold Challenge on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Bulldogs moved to 5-2 overall while the Cyclones improved to 3-4 on the season.
"Tonight was a tough loss," head coach
Darrin McBroom said. "We came out slow in the first set. During the second set, we got some traction and did some good things. This loss definitely put some of our deficits on display and will work hard to make improvements. Iowa State is a very good program and I am proud of the way our team battled back in the match."
After dropping the first set, 25-13, Drake bounced back in set two.
Taylor Oberpriller began to take over with a kill for an early 7-2 advantage.
Haley Bush spiked the ball down the middle of the floor to extend the lead to 16-10.
At match point up 24-20, the Bulldogs saw the score even at 24 points apiece. Drake again responded to take set two, 27-25, following an overpowering attack by
Mariana Rodrigues and a Cyclone attack error.
Oberpriller picked up where she left off in the third set with three kills during a quick 5-0 Bulldog spurt. Iowa State narrowed the gap and eventually took a 13-12 lead. An ace from freshman
Macy Daufeldt brought the Bulldogs within one point again (17-16). The Cyclones outscored the visitors from Des Moines by an 8-3 margin to claim set three, 25-19.
A kill by Iowa State's Maya Duckworth put the Cyclones in the driver's seat ahead 18-12 in set four. The Bulldogs responded with four straight points keyed by a pair of service aces from freshman
Addison Beagle. Another kill by one of Drake's senior leaders
Haley Bush knotted up the set, 20-20.
Aiming to force a fifth set, Drake took a 23-22 lead following an Iowa State service error. The Cyclones rebounded to bring up match point, leading 25-24. Daufeldt looked to tie the set, but her attack landed out of bounds. Iowa State hung on 26-24 in the fourth set to seal the match victory.
The Cardinal & Gold Challenge will resume on Friday, Sept. 9, as the Bulldogs meet Wright State at 4 p.m.
NOTES
- Taylor Oberpriller matched her career-high 15 kills.
- Jada Wills recorded a season-high 22 digs.
- Haley Bush had double-digit kills (18) and digs (10) in the same match for the third time this season.
- Iowa State leads the all-time series, 39-20.
