ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Five players from the Drake volleyball team earned all MVC honors, the league announced Saturday morning.
Macy Daufeldt and
Jada Wills were named Co-MVC Player of the Year and Co-MVC Defensive Player of the Year, while being named to the First Team. Meanwhile,
Ashlynn Kuhn and
Megan Witte were selected to the Second Team and
Bliss Beck was tabbed to the All-Freshman Team.
Daufeldt has started every match during the regular season for Drake and was a four-time MVC Player of the Week honoree this season. The junior outside hitter leads Drake with 470 kills, which is good for second most in the league and has an average of 4.35 kills per set, which is also the second-best mark in the league. She recorded the third-highest mark in the league this season for kills in a match with 32 vs. Valpo on Nov. 8, which was just three shy of tying the program record. She also leads Drake with 32 service aces, which is tied for ninth in the league. On the defensive side, Daufeldt ranks second on Drake with 326 digs, which ranks 16th in the league. The West Liberty, Iowa native tallied 68 total blocks, which ranks third on Drake and 19th in the league. Overall, Daufeldt recorded 19 double-double performances in 29 matches this season.
Wills followed her 2023 MVC Libero of the Year selection with another outstanding campaign in 2024. Adding to her already decorated career, Will was a six-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week honoree this season and became the Drake volleyball career digs record holder this season. She currently has recorded 2,745 digs in her Drake tenure. Wills leads Drake, the MVC, and the nation with 751 digs this season while also leading Drake, the MVC, and the nation with an average of 6.95 digs per set. The Dubuque, Iowa native owns seven of the top-10 marks for digs in a match this season including the top spot with 45 digs against Bradley on Oct. 18. Her 751 digs this season are the second most in a single season in Drake volleyball history and she also ranks third on Drake with 110 assists.
Witte played a pivotal role in Drake's success this season after transferring from UNI. She has posted 355 kills, 271 digs, 51 blocks, and 30 service aces on the year, which all rank in the top-5 on the Drake squad. Kuhn has been one of the top offensive performers for the Bulldogs as well this season racking up 305 kills on a hitting clip of .270. On defense, the senior has provided 66 total blocks and 124 digs. The Hudson, Iowa native will go down in the Drake record books with one of the best career-hitting percentages with a current mark of .279.
In her first season as a Bulldog, Beck made an immediate impact from her middle blocker position. The Tiffin, Iowa native provided both offense and defense for Drake leading the team in total blocks (112) and ranking second in hitting-percentage (.311). Beck has started every match for the Bulldogs this season and has totaled 130 kills, which is the fourth most on the team.
Drake now heads into postseason play for the MVC Championship. The Bulldogs earned the No. 2 seed after going 16-2 in conference play, which granted them a bye into the semifinals. Drake will next play on Monday, Nov. 25 against the winner between No. 7 Murray State, No. 6 Valparaiso, or No. 3 UIC.
