DAYTON, Ohio – Drake volleyball began their 2023 season with a thrilling match against a nationally ranked opponent. The Bulldogs battled No. 12 Marquette in a five-set affair which was eventually won by a late-charging Golden Eagle squad.
Drake got things going early and often with 4-0 run to start the first set. The Golden Eagles were able to settle into the match as play progressed, but Drake still built a lead as wide as six points. Marquette did their best to keep the period close, trimming Drake's advantage to four points before another late rally propelled the Bulldogs to a 1-0 match lead.
Marquette retaliated in the second set, building an early lead of their own. The Bulldogs could not chip away in the stanza as a pair of service errors evened the match 1-1.
The third set was all Bulldogs again as Drake opened an 8-1 advantage built on a trio of Golden Eagle attack errors and capped off by back-to-back kills from
Taylor Oberpriller and
Haley Bush. Marquette got back within three points before another Bush score provided the final blow as Drake regained the match lead.
Momentum swayed back towards Marquette in the fourth set as the Golden Eagles took advantage of some timely Drake mishaps and cruised to a 25-19 set victory to force a fifth set. In the final period, Drake trailed 12-11 after consecutive Oberpriller kills. The Bulldogs' late push was not enough, though, as the No. 12 Golden Eagles fired off another 3-0 run to secure the season-opening win.
Macy Daufeldt scored on 22 kills, a new career high, as Bush followed with 20 of her own. Sophomore setter
Addison Beagle dished out 54 assists to lead all players.
Defensively,
Kacie Rewerts rejected six blocks on the front line while libero
Jada Wills recorded a match-high 36 digs.
"We lost tonight…but we chose this path," Drake head coach
Darrin McBroom said. "We want to be challenged now so we're better in the end. Our girls played well and were with them the whole way.
"Macy [Daufeldt] didn't make many errors and was targeted [in the first couple sets] by Marquette on the serve," McBroom continued. "She faced the fire tonight and played exceptionally well. We've got a quick turnaround tomorrow morning before back-to-back matches and it's not any easier."
The Bulldogs will finish their opening weekend at the Flyer Invitational with two more matches tomorrow again the host Dayton Flyers and No. 24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
