The Basics
Drake volleyball returns to the court for its final non-conference tournament of the season at the Kwik Star Klassic hosted by the University of Iowa. The Bulldogs are scheduled for three games in three days against Saint Louis (Sep. 19), South Dakota (Sep. 20), and Iowa (Sep. 21) at Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake comes into the Kwik Star Klassic with an overall record of 2-6 on the season after taking a trip south to compete in the Ole Miss Invitational last weekend. While in Oxford, Miss. Drake played three matches against Florida Gulf Coast, Ole Miss, and Little Rock going 1-2 against its opponents dropping matches against the Eagles and Rebels, while earning a win over the Trojans. Macy Daufeldt led the Bulldogs over the course of the Ole Miss Invitational recording double-doubles in every match and earned All-Tournament accolades.
Drake Leaders
Kills | Macy Daufeldt – 117,
Megan Witte – 80,
Ashlynn Kuhn - 69
Assists | Addison Beagle – 264,
Jada Wills – 22
Digs | Jada Wills – 145,
Addison Beagle – 77,
Macy Daufeldt - 67
Blocks | Bliss Beck – 21,
Aniyah Davis – 18,
Megan Witte - 13
Service Aces | Macy Daufeldt – 11,
Ashlynn Kuhn – 6,
Jada Wills - 5
Scouting Saint Louis
Saint Louis has compiled a record of 4-5 to start out its 2024 season and went 1-2 last weekend at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational hosted by Missouri State. After finishing 16-16 overall and 8-10 in Atlantic 10 Conference play a season ago, the Billikens return 10 players in total from last year's squad and welcomed in a large recruiting class as 10 newcomers (nine freshmen and one transfer) are a part of this years team.
On the offensive end, Saint Louis is led by Addy Brus in kills per set (3.88) and service aces (11), while Abby Lynn dishes out the assists averaging 7.92 per set. Defensively, Trinity Luckett provides 1.12 blocks per set and Carlie Rodgers has tallied a mark of 4.33 digs per set.
Saint Louis Leaders
Kills | Addy Brus – 128, Delaney Rice – 75, Trinity Luckett – 67
Assists | Abby Lynn – 190, Addie Lyon – 65, Kate Aupperle - 61
Digs | Carlie Rodgers – 143, Addy Brus – 65, Abby Lynn – 56
Blocks | Trinity Luckett – 37, Kayla Jansen – 31, Delaney Rice – 23
Service Aces | Addy Brus – 11, Abby Lynn – 10, Carlie Rodgers - 10
Scouting South Dakota
The Coyotes holds a record of 6-2 in 2024 and are currently on a four-game winning streak after going undefeated in their host tournament last weekend besting Montana State, UTEP, and Iowa State. A standout performer for South Dakota recently has been freshman Lauren Medeck who was tabbed as the Summit League Offensive Performer of the Week. Medeck led the Coyotes last weekend totaling 49 kills hitting at a clip of .266, tallied 34 digs, one service ace and had nine total blocks (three solo).
Drake and South Dakota have matched up seven times previously with South Dakota having a slight edge in the all-time series, 4-3. The Bulldogs and Coyotes did go up against each other last season and it was Drake who came away with a victory in five sets, 3-2.
South Dakota Leaders
Kills | Kylen Sealock – 100, Lauren Medeck – 81, Morgan Bode – 54
Assists | Avery Van Hook – 303, Kamryn Farris – 30
Digs | Kamryn Farris – 121, Lauren Medeck – 68, Avery Van Hook – 66
Blocks | Morgan Bode – 24, Audrey Nelson – 20, Avery Van Hook – 12
Service Aces | Kamryn Farris – 10, Morgan Bode – 7, Caity Clancy – 5, Lauren Medeck - 5
Scouting Iowa
Iowa holds a record of 5-4 coming into its host tournament and is looking to improve upon its 8-24 overall record and 0-20 mark in the Big Ten a year ago. The young Hawkeyes squad rely heavily on underclassmen including outside hitters Malu Garcia and Dominique Phills
, who top the team in kills with 83 and 69.
The Bulldogs and Hawkeyes have been battling on the court dating back to 1986 and Iowa leads the all-time series, 13-4. Drake got the better of Iowa the last time the two programs went against each other in 2022 winning the match, 3-1.
Iowa Leaders
Kills | Malu Garcia – 83, Dominique Phills – 69, Hannah Whittingstall – 69
Assists | Claire Ammeral – 223, Jenna Meitzler – 101
Digs | Joy Galles – 132, Michelle Urquhart – 76, Claire Ammeraal – 64
Blocks | Hannah Whittingstall – 36, Gracie Gibson – 29, Malu Garcia – 21
Service Aces | Michelle Urquhart – 12, Alyssa Worden– 12, Joy Galles - 11
Up Next
Drake will begin conference play as it returns to Des Moines for its home opening weekend with a pair of contests. The Bulldogs will first take on Missouri State on Friday, September 27, and then host Southern Illinois on Saturday, September 28.
