CHICAGO, Ill. – The Flames of UIC (19-11, 10-7) completed the season sweep of Drake this evening as the Bulldogs (21-8, 14-3) let go of an early lead to drop Saturday's match 25-19, 20-25, 26-28, 19-25.
Drake opened the match with a 25-19 win in the first set as the visitors built a lead as wide as 12-2. UIC was able to chip away at Drake's advantage, but the Dogs' persistent attack kept UIC at bay as
Taylor Oberpriller scored the set's final point to swing momentum towards Drake.
The fiery UIC bunch came back in the second period and kept the Bulldogs nearby as the score was knotted at 15-all midway through the period. UIC proceeded to rattle off seven unanswered scores to go up by five, a lead too large for the Bulldogs to bounce back from. UIC evened the match score with a 25-20 set win.
The Flames maintained momentum in the third set despite Drake's toughness and poise. The Bulldogs were able to turn things back in their direction with a 5-0 rally to go up 21-18, but their lead was not safe. The two teams traded blows until a 3-0 UIC run drew the Flames even once more.
Drake grabbed a narrow lead at 26-25 on a UIC setting error, but another 3-0 spurt secured the match lead as UIC won the lengthy set, 28-26.
Darrin McBroom's squad did their best to force a fifth set as the Bulldogs built a 16-13 lead in the fourth frame. The Bulldogs reached that scored on a 7-1 run including three
Haley Bush kills. UIC did not fold, though, and regained the advantage. A 9-1 run of their own was enough to seal the deal as the Flames took the fourth set 25-19 and the match, 3-1.
Bush led Drake with 16 kills followed by
Macy Daufeldt's 14 and
Taylor Oberpriller's 13. Oberpriller completed a double-double with 14 digs and lso led Drake's defensive effort with eight blocks, a new career high.
Elsewhere,
Addison Beagle dished out a match-best 34 assists while
Jada Wills made 17 digs.
Kacie Rewerts performed well in the middle with seven blocks to her credit.
"[It was] a tough night for the Bulldogs," McBroom said. "We played exceptionally well at times but couldn't maintain that performance over the long haul. We need to regroup and get ready for the next match. Our team battled tonight, but UIC is a strong team, and they can hurt you…we gave them too many opportunities [to do so]."
Drake will finish off their regular season schedule next week with a Wednesday-night tilt at UNI. The Bulldogs and Panthers will square off in Cedar Falls on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
NOTES
- Drake is now 8-4 away from home this season.
- The Drake loss snapped a seven-match winning streak.
- Tonight's result locked in the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MVC Tournament for Drake.
- Taylor Oberpriller completed a double-double for the second night in a row with 14 digs and 13 kills.
- Oberpriller also logged a career-high eight blocks.
- Haley Bush led Drake's offensive effort with 16 kills.
