NORMAL, Ill. – Drake volleyball (8-5, 1-0) opened the conference portion of their 2023 schedule with a 3-1 victory over Illinois State (2-11, 0-1). The Bulldogs rebounded after dropping the opening set to win the match 25-27, 25-19, 25-15, 25-17.
 
Illinois State and Drake traded blows to open the match until a 5-0 Redbird run gave the hosts an 11-7 lead. Drake was able to regain the lead midway through the match at 17-15 but could not finish down the stretch. The Bulldogs eventually earned a slim edge late in the set with a 25-24 lead before another 3-0 Illinois State rally clinched the 27-25 set win.
 
The Bulldogs bounced back in the second set with a gritty 25-19 win. The two teams again traded scores in the early stages before the visiting Bulldogs were able to find their footing. A 6-1 run spurred by two Ashlynn Kuhn kills gave Drake the gap they needed as the evened the match.
 
Drake then sprinted through the third set with a comfortable 25-15 win and fended off a feisty Illinois State squad for a 25-17 set win and a 3-1 match victory.
 
Macy Daufeldt led all players with 17 kills followed by Taylor Oberpriller with 16 and Haley Bush with 16. Oberpriller and Bush also added double digit digs with 15 and 14, respectively. Elsewhere, Addison Beagle distributed 53 assists, her second-highest total in a four-set match in her career.
 
"Every team is going to bring their best," Drake Head Coach Darrin McBroom said. "If we aren't prepared to do the same then we're going to be vulnerable. Credit to Illinois State…they have some talented athletes and really challenged us. It's good to start off on the right foot in conference."
 
"Beagle did another strong job of running the offense and getting the ball to the hitters in key situations." McBroom added. "Our hitters all hit really well…we need everybody doing their part and they all showed up and that was key."
 
NOTES

• Addison Beagle's 53 assists were her second-most in a four-set match in her career.
• Macy Daufeldt led Drake in kills for the fourth time this season with 17.
• Drake has now won four-straight MVC-opening matches.
• Haley Bush is now second all-time on Drake's all-time kills list with 4,162.