OMAHA, Neb. – Drake volleyball concluded their stay at the Bluejay Invitational on Sunday with a matinee match against Creighton, the tournament hosts. The 12th-ranked Bluejays proved their national ranking with a convincing victory in straight sets, 3-0.
Drake kept things close in the early stages of the first set but could not secure the lead. Creighton eventually opened the difference to 17-9 after a 5-0 run including two kills from Jaya Johnson. Another late 3-0 rally by the Bluejays hammered in the final nail as Creighton won the set, 25-16.
The Bulldogs played their most competitive set in the second, but again failed to gain any lead. Four-straight Bluejay errors kept the distance at just four points, but Creighton's missteps were halted as the hosts proceeded to open things back up at 20-12.
Thea Rotto and
Macy Daufeldt both scored kills before a 5-1 Drake run cut back into the deficit, but the Bulldog rally was not enough as Creighton went on to win the second set, 25-18.
Drake was able to jump out in front early in the third set, 5-3, but Creighton came back in overwhelming fashion. The No. 12 Bluejays rattled of five-straight scores to take an 8-5 advantage and later scored nine in a row to extend their lead to 13 points at 21-8. The two teams traded points until an Ava Martin kill and Drake error ended the set, 25-11, and the match, 3-0
Daufeldt's nine kills were matched by Norah Sis of Creighton for the most in the contest. Daufeldt also tied
Aniyah Davis and
Bliss Beck with a team-high two blocks.
Addison Beagle dished out 16 assists to lead Drake.
Jada Wills led the Bulldogs with 19 digs and was Drake's lone representative on the All-Tournament Team.
"We played the 12th-ranked team in the nation, and it was tough," Drake head coach
Darrin McBroom said. "I'm proud of our players' composure. I think we did a lot of things well and got better. Jada [Wills] had a great weekend...she was great in serve receive and [on the] service line, just did a lot of good things. Thea [Rotto] did nice job in her first start…she's worked a lot on trying to hit high hands and it was nice to give her a shot and see what she could do."
Drake will travel back across the Missouri River next weekend for a two-game trip to Omaha. McBroom's squad will visit the Mavericks (Sep. 5) before a neutral site tilt against Oklahoma (Sep. 6).
