The Basics
The Drake women's volleyball team has completed the first month of the season and is looking ahead to October. The Bulldogs will spend the weekend on the road, beginning Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against UIC and then will head to Valparaiso for a match against the Beacons on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
After beginning MVC play last weekend, Drake enters this contest with an overall record of 6-7 and holds a 2-0 record in the conference. The Bulldogs are riding a three-game win streak after sweeping both Missouri State and Southern Illinois last weekend as well as defeating Iowa, 3-1, on Sep. 21. Jada Willis defended her MVC Defensive Player of the Week title by winning the honor again this week.
 
Drake Leaders
Kills | Macy Daufeldt – 194, Megan Witte – 137, Ashlynn Kuhn – 126
Assists | Addison Beagle – 425, Madison Geise – 57, Jada Wills – 41
Digs | Jada Wills – 294, Macy Daufeldt – 132, Addison Beagle – 124
Blocks | Aniyah Davis – 40.0, Bliss Beck – 33.0, Macy Daufeldt – 27.0
Service Aces | Macy Daufeldt – 19, Megan Witte – 13, Jada Wills – 12
 
Scouting UIC
Similarly to Drake, the Flames are also riding a three-match win streak and post a 2-0 conference record. UIC is 10-4 overall and is 2-0 on their home court. Friday's match will mark the first time since Sep. 20 that the Flames have played at home. Last weekend, the Flames defeated Indiana State, 3-0, and defeated Evansville, 3-1, to begin their conference slate.
 
All-time, the Bulldogs and Flames are deadlocked at 5-5. The two programs most recently squared off last November in the MVC Tournament, which Drake won 3-0. UIC has won two of the last three, however.
 
UIC Leaders
Kills | Zahria Woodard – 141, Cleo Lorenzo – 119, Tamara Kisic – 82
Assists | Francesca Venturini – 339, Mihaela Harizanova – 249, Hannah Howard – 60
Digs | Hannah Howard – 179, Francesca Venturini – 106, Cleo Lorenzo – 103
Blocks | Zahria Woodard – 66.0, Kayanna Jones – 36.0, Cleo Lorenzo – 24.0
Service Aces | Francesca Venturini – 21, Mihaela Harizanova – 16, Hannah Howard – 11
 
 
Scouting Valparaiso
Just like UIC, the Beacons also played Indiana State (W 3-0) and Evansville (L 2-3) last weekend. Valpo is 9-5 on the season with a 1-1 conference record and are 2-1 at home. The Beacons are 2-2 in their last four and their contest with Drake will come after an Oct. 4 matchup at home against UNI.
 
Drake is on a three-match winning streak against Valparaiso dating back to 2022, despite the Bulldogs being 7-13 against the Beacons all-time. Drake defeated Valpo 3-1 in Indiana last season after defeating them 3-1 in the Des Moines contest last September. This is the first win streak Drake has had in the history between these schools, after Valpo held a six-match win streak against them from Nov. 2019 to Sep. 2022.
 
Valparaiso Leaders
Kills | Elise Swistek – 155, Ava Helming – 111, Jordyn Gove – 94
Assists | Addy Kois – 304, Mara Thomas – 275, Emma Hickey – 69
Digs | Emma Hickey – 295, Elise Swistek – 198, Mara Thomas – 125
Blocks | Jessica Pickett – 57.0, Lilly Merk – 43.0, Ava Helming – 30.0
Service Aces | Addy Kois – 17, Mara Thomas – 17, Lilly Merk – 15
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return home next weekend, for a match with Murray State on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m., and will play again against Belmont on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.