CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake volleyball team (21-9, 14-4) ended their 2023 regular season with a 3-1 defeat at outright MVC champion UNI (24-6, 18-0). The Panthers wrapped up an undefeated conference slate with their victory over the second-place Bulldogs.

UNI jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead to start the contest. Drake was able to start their climb back into it, but the powerful Panther attack proved daunting as UNI's lead grew. The Panthers hit the 20-point mark first and closed the set on a 4-0 run to seal the first period, 25-14.

Drake bounced back in the second stanza, building an early 5-1 lead of their own. UNI rallied to get back within one point at 13-12, but a Haley Bush kill stopped the comeback in its tracks. The host Panthers were able to keep within striking distance, but the Bulldogs were in a rhythm and went on to win the set, 25-19.

Both the third and fourth sets went the way of the Panthers. The third saw plenty of back-and-forth action as Drake held a 14-9 lead before UNI sped through a 6-1 run, tying the score at 16-all. The Bulldogs regained a slight advantage at 21-20 on an Ashlynn Kuhn kill, one of 11 on the night for her, but could not contain UNI's progress. The Panthers won the third set 25-23.

UNI maintained their momentum in the fourth set, again bouncing back from a short Drake spurt at the offset. The Panthers rattled off six-unanswered scores to go up 13-7 and did not look back. All-league hitter Emily Holterhaus provided a kill before a Bulldog error sealed the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-1, both in favor of UNI.

Macy Daufeldt led Drake with 16 kills followed by Taylor Oberpriller with 13. Oberpriller finished the night with a match-high 18 kills to complete a double-double. Bush added 10 kills on the offensive end.

Madison Geise dished out 25 assists while Addison Beagle logged 18.

Defensively, Kacie Rewerts led the match with four blocks while Daufeldt added three. Libero Jada Wills also posted 14 digs.

The Bulldogs will enter the 2023 MVC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. As a top two seed, Drake earned a bye into the semifinals and will take on the winner of No. 3 UIC, No. 6 Illinois State, or No. 7 Missouri State, the tournament hosts, on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

 
NOTES

• Drake is now 8-5 away from home this season.
• Wednesday's loss marks just the second time Drake has lost consecutive matches this season, the first coming in an 0-3 weekend to start the season at the Flyer Invitational (Aug. 25-26)
• Taylor Oberpriller completed a double-double for the third-straight match with 18 digs and 13 kills.
• Macy Daufeldt led Drake's offensive effort with 16 kills.
• Kacie Rewerts made a match-high four blocks.
• Drake will enter the 2023 MVC Tournament as the No. 2 seed, which gives them a bye to the semifinals.