SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake University volleyball team finished its 2024 road slate on Saturday evening with a match at rival Missouri State. The Bulldogs and Bears traded proverbial punches throughout Saturday's tilt, but Drake had just enough to eke by Missouri State, 3-2.
 
There was no true advantage in the opening set. Missouri State was able to jump out to an early lead, but the Dogs remained persistent and fought back to take a 17-16 lead after four quick unanswered points. The tides never completely turned in Drake's favor, though, as the Bears retaliated to finish set on a 5-3 run, securing a 25-22 period win.
 
Drake found its groove a little earlier in the second stanza, erecting an 11-4 advantage behind a 9-2 run. The Bulldogs added two more 3-0 spurts in the set and eventually nailed down the 25-18 set victory with kills by Ashlynn Kuhn and Lisa Melenciano.
 
The third set saw much of the same as Missouri State regained some footing, and Drake's mojo ebbed back to match the Bears'. Trailing 11-7, star hitter Macy Daufeldt recorded a kill to ignite an 8-3 rally by the Bulldogs and give the visitors a 15-14 lead. That advantage slipped slightly, but Darrin McBroom's bunch was able to right the ship and grind out a 27-25 win to leap out in front in the overall tally.
 
Extra points were again necessary in the fourth set and the Bulldogs and Bears played through a marathon of a period. Missouri State gathered a lead a large as four, but the Bulldogs refused to cede any ground as they fought right back into contention. Freshman Bliss Beck eventually gave Drake a 29-28 lead, but three straight points by Missouri State ended the set, 31-29, and forced a winner-take-all fifth.
 
Drake felt some heat in the final set. The Bears led early, but a 3-1 run in crunch time sparked by a Megan Witte kill provided the separation Drake needed to win the set, 15-13, and the match, 3-2.
 
Macy Daufeldt led Drake's big three on the front row with 27 kills while making 19 digs. Fellow hitter Megan Witte also posted a double-double with 17 kills and 21 digs. Ashlyn Kuhn rounded out the double-digit killers with 18.
 
Elsewhere, Bliss Beck led the defensive effort with seven blocks and Jada Wills recorded a match high 39 digs. Adison Beagle distributed 46 assists, followed by 21 from Madison Geise.
 
The Bulldogs will return to the Knapp Center for their final regular season match on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Drake is set to host rival UNI with first serve slated for 6 p.m.