The Basics
The Drake women's volleyball team is set for its home opening weekend and will take on Missouri State and Southern Illinois in a back-to-back conference battle in the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs start the action on Sep. 27 at 6 p.m. hosting Missouri State followed by SIU on Sep. 28 at 5 p.m.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake comes into the weekend with a 4-7 overall record after closing out its non-conference slate last week. The Bulldogs took two of three games at the Kwik Star Klassic earning wins over Saint Louis and in-state foe Iowa and falling to South Dakota. The duo of Macy Daufeldt and Jada Wills also garnered Missouri Valley weekly honors with Daufeldt being named Player of the Week and Wills named Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Drake Leaders
Kills | Macy Daufeldt – 174, Megan Witte – 116, Ashlynn Kuhn – 106
Assists | Addison Beagle – 386, Jada Wills – 36, Madison Geise – 23
Digs | Jada Wills – 246, Macy Daufeldt – 112, Addison Beagle – 107
Blocks | Aniyah Davis – 35.0, Bliss Beck – 26.0, Macy Daufeldt – 22.0
Service Aces | Macy Daufeldt – 15, Jada Wills – 10, Megan Witte – 9
 
Scouting Missouri State
The Bears have already begun their conference portion of the season and post a 6-7 overall record. Missouri State is 2-1 on the road and dropped its conference opener after a loss to Southern Illinois on Sep. 19, 3-2, to open their final tournament of the year at the Saluki Invitational. The Bears also fell to SIUE last weekend but picked up a win over SEMO.
 
In the all-time series between Drake and Missouri State, the Bears have the advantage, 54-13. However, the Bulldogs have had the Bears' number in recent matchups winning four of the last five. The Bulldogs have also defended their home court as of late against the Bears with the last home loss coming in 2019.
 
Missouri State Leaders
Kills | Rilynn Finley – 133, Maddy Bushnell – 122, Aniya Joseph – 116
Assists | Morgan Sprague – 470, Rossana Papa – 99, Brooke Eslinger – 25
Digs | Kate Owen – 212, Brooke Eslinger – 185, Morgan Sprague – 163
Blocks | Neele'ge' Sims – 33.0, Grace Smith – 30.0, Maddy Bushnell – 21.0
Service Aces | Kate Owen – 11, Neele'ge' Sims – 11, Brooke Eslinger – 9
 
Scouting Southern Illinois
The Salukis will come to Des Moines on Saturday with an 8-4 record and are coming off of a 3-2 win over SEMO in their most recent match. SIU begins its conference slate with a road match against UNI on Sep. 27 before taking on the Bulldogs, however. The Salukis were picked to finish fifth in the preseason MVC poll receiving 85 votes coming off their 2023 season where they finished fourth in the MVC and made their second-ever postseason appearance, earning a bid to the 2023 NIVC.
 
Drake has won seven straight against Southern Illinois, which is the longest winning streak the Bulldogs have had against the Salukis in the all-time series. The Salukis do have the edge overall, however, leading 42-28.
 
Southern Illinois Leaders
Kills | Annabelle Sulish – 144, Kelly Franklin – 125, Ella Swansiger – 103
Assists | Anna Jaworski – 271, Ema Stermenska – 250, Cecilia Bulmahn – 35
Digs | Cecilia Bulmahn – 226, Annabelle Sulish – 136, Kelly Franklin – 106
Blocks | Larissa Seger – 46.0, Eva Krakwoski – 40.0, Avery Parris – 31.0
Service Aces | Ema Stermenska – 17, Cecilia Bulmahn – 12, Kelly Fraknlin – 12, Anna Jaworski – 12
 
Up Next
After this weekend, the Bulldogs will be traveling to Chicago, Ill., to take on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames on Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 PM followed by a match at Valparaiso on Oct. 5 scheduled for 6 PM.
 
Any Bulldog fans who purchase tickets to the Drake football game earlier in the day on Saturday can gain free entry into the volleyball match by presenting their football ticket at the Knapp Center ticket office.