OMAHA, Neb. – The Drake volleyball team suffered their second loss in as many matches on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs put together a more complete effort but could not find enough footing in a 3-1 loss to NC State.
 
Drake (0-2) jumped off the blocks and controlled the first half of the first set. Kills from Megan Witte, Macy Daufeldt, and Ashlynn Kuhn spurred the Dogs to an early 6-3 lead. Drake was able to grow their advantage to 13-7 before the Wolfpack came on. NC State (1-1) worked back to tie the set score at 18-all. The two teams traded blows, but the Pack had the final say with an Ava Brizard kill and Bulldog error to take the first period, 25-21.
 
Drake again enjoyed an early lead in the second set, starting off at 9-3. The back-and-forth action resumed before three NC State errors and a Witte strike put Drake within reach of a set victory at 20-16. That lead did not last long as NC State stormed back and won the frame in extras, 28-26.
 
The roles reversed in the third set as NC State built the initial lead. Drake stayed steady and eventually gained a 16-12 advantage after three Ashlynn Kuhn aces. The Wolfpack challenged down the stretch but could not close out a clutch Drake team. Kuhn and the squad took the third period 25-21 for their first set victory of the year.
 
The fourth set started in familiar fashion as Drake hopped out to a 4-1 lead. The Dogs led at 16-10 before NC State cut the rally to just two points. Later in the period, a 6-1 Wolfpack run gave the ACC squad the lead, which they held through the final score, 25-22. That set victory gave NC State the 3-1 match win.
 
"[We saw] ;ots of upside and I'm proud of the way the team played," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said. "NC State is a team that was on par with us last year, so we knew we'd have a competitive game. We had numerous leads but let it slip away…still a good starting point to measure us for the season. We were getting a little predictable in the first set and started to get some more people involved…build up some more weapons."
 
Daufeldt led a trio of Bulldogs with double-digit kills. She posted 19 while Witte added 15 and Kuhn had a dozen. Kuhn also had four aces and the second-most blocks with three, just behind Aniyah Davis' four. Elsewhere, Addison Beagle recorded 50 assists and 12 digs while Jada Wills posted 21 digs.
 
Drake will conclude their trip to Omaha tomorrow afternoon with a matchup against the tournament hosts, Creighton. The former MVC rivals will get started at 2:30 p.m.