DES MOINES, Iowa. – The Drake volleyball team concluded its weekend of Missouri Valley conference action with a 3-0 sweep over the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday afternoon from the Knapp Center. After starting the conference season dropping its first three matches, the Bulldogs have won their last three to improve to .500 in conference play.
 
The first set saw Drake and Evansville trade points in the early goings until a 3-0 run from the Bulldogs, featuring kills by Caroline Smith and Bliss Beck, pushed them ahead 8-6. Just past the halfway point in the frame, Drake upped its lead to 14-8 after Macy Daufeldt got on the board with a kill of her own. Not long after, Drake was up by double digits, 19-9, following a 5-0 highlighted by a service ace from Emaline Handzel. Fully in control, the Bulldogs went on to win the set, 25-13.
 
In set two, it was more of the same commanding presence from Drake as it began the set with a 5-0 scoring spurt to force an early timeout from the Purple Aces. Drake eventually doubled up Evansville at the 12-6 mark following back-to-back kills from Aniyah Davis and Kacia Brown. Following a 4-0 run, the Bulldogs held strong with a 17-8 advantage and proceeded to close out the frame on a 6-0 run to take set two, 25-12. Handzel again was at the top of her service game as she recorded two more service aces during Drake's closing run.
 
After coming together at 5-5 to begin the third set, Drake vaulted ahead of Evansville, 9-5, with Katie Quick capping off another 5-0 run with a service ace. Using its momentum, Drake was quickly ahead 14-7 off a 4-0 scoring run getting kills from Brown and a solo block by Smith. The Bulldogs never relinquished their lead and kept any hope from Evansville comeback from happening with a 5-0 run to set the score at 24-12 and a match point. After a score by the Purple Aces to extend the match just a bit longer, Daufeldt secured the set for Drake with a kill, 25-13, and the match, 3-0.
 
Daufeldt was the leader in the scoring department for the Bulldogs in the game earning a double-double with 12 kills and a team-high 13 digs. Brown was one kill shy of double-digits with nine and she also added seven digs. Quick dished out the most assist for Drake with 16 while adding five digs to her stat line and Addison Beagle was not far behind with 13 assists and seven digs. As a team, the Bulldogs hit at a clip of .324, which marked their second highest hitting output of the season.
 
The Bulldogs hit the road for their next pair of matches. Drake will first take on Illinois State next weekend on Friday, Oct. 17, and then trek over to Bradley to challenge the Braves on Saturday, Oct. 18.