DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake volleyball (23-10, 14-4) will get to continue their 2023 campaign after getting by Chicago State in the first round of the NIVC. Drake overcame a shaky start to blow by the Cougars 29-27, 25-18, 25-16.
The Bulldogs came out a bit flat as Chicago State led from the first serve. Drake struggled to find a rhythm on offense as the Cougars were the first to the 15-point mark. Drake then trimmed into lead with back-to-back Bush kills. Momentum grew with a
Taylor Oberpriller score to force CSU timeout, the deficit down to just two.
After the break,
Kacie Rewerts joined the party to get back within one as the Bulldogs eventually knotted the score at 23-all. Oberpriller connected again to give Drake a one-point lead. The MVC runner-up Bulldogs needed a few extra points but completed their comeback in the opening set with a 29-27 win.
Chicago State started hot again in the second, building a 5-1 lead, but Drake was able to erase the early deficit and tie the match thanks to a
Zeynep Gur ace and Oberpriller kill. Drake found a groove and jumped out to a 9-6 lead of their own to force Cougar timeout.
Drake's lead was extended to 19-11 after an efficient run by the Bulldogs including a pair of
Haley Bush aces. Bush slammed the door on Chicago State after a late charge to win the set 25-18.
Drake earned 4-0 lead to begin third period as the Bulldogs took over. Head coach
Darrin McBroom's crew cruised to 25-16 third set win and 3-0 sweep.
Oberpriller had an all-around evening with a dozen kills and 22 digs, both team highs. Bush added 11 kills and a match-best three aces. Elsewhere,
Madison Geise posted a team-high 22 assists.
Defensively,
Kacie Rewerts made three total block assists to reach 459 for her career, tying the Drake volleyball record.
"There's a lot of really good teams in this tournament and you're going to have to be your best to find success," McBroom said after the victory. "Kudos to [Chicago State] on a great season. That first set could've gone either way and we fortunately found a way to win at the end. I'm really proud of our players tonight, [Chicago State] outblocked us…we had to work around that. So I'm just proud of our team tonight for being very resilient."
The Bulldogs will have a quick turnaround as they will against play host in the NIVC Second Round. Drake is set to take on DePaul at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening as the Blue Demons got past Southern Illinois in the first round.
NOTES
- Drake is now 8-2 at home this season.
- Drake is now 2-1 in NIVC home matches.
- Kacie Rewerts led Drake with three blocks. She is now tied for the all-time record with 459 block assists.
- Taylor Oberpriller logged 22 digs and 12 kills for her fourth double-double in the last five matches.
- Madison Geise led the Drake offense with 22 assists.
- Haley Bush added 11 kills and a match-best three service aces.
