The Basics 
The Drake women's volleyball team is slated for its final match of the 2024 regular season as it plays host to in-state rival UNI from the Knapp Center on Wednesday, No. 20. With a win, the Bulldogs would claim a share of the MVC regular season title as Drake and UNI sit atop the MVC standings.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers 
The Bulldogs continued their winning ways in their final road trip of the regular season as they defeated Southern Illinois (3-1) and Missouri State (3-2) last weekend. Drake is currently riding a 10-match winning streak and owns an overall record of 20-8 on the season. In conference play, the Bulldogs sit in second, behind UNI, with a record of 16-1. The Bulldogs will look to keep their perfect 8-0 record intact in games from the Knapp Center as well. Junior outside hitter Macy Daufeldt and graduate libero Jada Wills were named MVC Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Daufeldt and Wills are no strangers to weekly honors as it was the fourth time Daufeldt was named Player of the Week and the sixth Defensive Player of the week honor for Wills this season.
 
Drake Leaders  
Kills | Macy Daufeldt – 455, Megan Witte – 348, Ashlynn Kuhn – 296  
Digs | Jada Wills – 730, Macy Daufeldt – 317, Megan Witte – 258 
Assists | Addison Beagle – 821, Madison Geise – 319, Jada Wills – 109  
Blocks | Bliss Beck – 108.0, Aniyah Davis – 71.0, Macy Daufeldt – 66.0 
Service Aces | Macy Daufeldt – 32, Megan Witte – 29, Addison Beagle – 23 
 
Scouting UNI
UNI comes to Des Moines as the top team in the conference with an overall record of 22-7 on the season. The Panthers remained unbeaten in conference play and improved their conference record to 17-0 after sweeping both Missouri State and Southern Illinois last weekend. The last time the Panthers suffered a loss was on Sep. 22 against SMU (3-1). With its win over Southern Illinois this past Saturday, UNI claimed at least a share of the MVC regular season title for the third consecutive season. The Panthers have also won 35 consecutive MVC regular season contests dating back to last season. Overall, UNI has won 39 in-a-row against MVC foes since the 2022 MVC Tournament.
In the all-time series between Drake and UNI, the Panthers have the advantage 7-78. Drake and UNI faced off earlier this season on Oct. 14 where the Panthers won in straight sets. The Bulldogs were the last team to defeat the Panthers in regular season league conference play, which happened in Des Moines on Nov. 16, 2022.
 
UNI Leaders 
Kills | Kira Fallert – 384, Cassidy Hartman – 325, Olivia Tjernagel – 241
Digs | Erin Powers – 487, Kira Fallert – 221, Cassidy Hartman – 201  
Assists | Sydney Golden – 645, Reese Booth – 475, Erin Powers – 147  
Blocks | Kacie Rewerts – 140.0, Kaitlyn Sellner – 81.0, Olivia Tjernagel – 76.0 
Service Aces | Erin Powers – 43, Kira Fallert – 24, Sydney Golden – 23
 
Up Next 
The Bulldogs will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship where their next opponent and match will be determined later depending on final seeding. The MVC Championship will be hosted by UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and takes place Nov. 23-26.