The Basics
The Drake volleyball team gears up for another split week of action with a midweek matchup on the road against UNI on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and the home finale on Saturday, Nov. 8 against UIC.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake carries a nine-game winning streak into the week, which is the second-longest streak in the Missouri Valley Conference. The only other team with a streak longer than Drake's is UNI at 15 games. Drake went undefeated in October going a perfect 8-0 in the month. The Bulldogs dropped just six sets against their opponents over the entire month. With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Bulldogs are currently tied for third in the MVC standings with UIC at 9-3 in the league play.
Drake Leaders
Kills |
Macy Daufeldt – 312,
Kacia Brown – 300,
Caroline Smith – 174
Assists |
Addison Beagle – 414,
Katie Quick – 396,
Carolyn Maser – 76
Digs |
Macy Daufeldt – 292,
Gabbie Schroeder – 247,
Kacia Brown – 237
Blocks |
Bliss Beck – 90,
Aniyah Davis – 76,
Caroline Smith – 42
Service Aces |
Kacia Brown – 18,
Addison Beagle – 15,
Macy Daufeldt – 15
Scouting UNI
As previously mentioned, the Panthers have won 15 matches in a row coming into the week and sit atop the MVC standings with an undefeated league record of 12-0. In the latest RPI rankings, UNI sits at 31st. The Panthers have defended their home court well this season and are 8-1 in games from the McLeod Center with the only loss being to No. 13 Arizona State.
Tuesday marks the 88th all-time matchup between the Bulldogs and the Panthers on the court. UNI leads the all-time series, 80-7. The Bulldogs will look to end a seven-match losing streak to UNI with a victory on Tuesday night. Drake is just 3-39 all-time in road contests against the Panthers. This will be the second meeting of the season between the Bulldogs and Panthers. UNI got the better of Drake in the first meeting, 3-1, back on September 30 from Des Moines. That was the last match that Drake lost before its current nine-game winning streak.
UNI Leaders
Kills | Cassidy Hartman – 325, Lily Dykstra – 280, Maryn Bixby – 151
Assists | Reese Booth – 492, Kate Shafer – 227, Sydney Golden – 185
Digs | Jadyn Petersen – 344, Cassidy Hartman – 232, Reese Booth – 192
Blocks | Maryn Bixby – 84, Lindsay Oldendorf – 52, Isabelle Elliott – 48
Service Aces | Jadyn Petersen – 22, Reese Booth – 15, Lily Dykstra – 15
Scouting UIC
The Flames are also on a winning streak of their own and have won seven matches in-a-row. UIC is tied with Drake in the MVC standings as it also holds a conference record of 9-3. UIC's winning streak will be put to the test, however, as it faces UNI on Friday night before the match with the Bulldogs. In road games this season, the Flames have gone 5-3.
The all-time series between Drake and UIC is deadlocked at 7-7. Saturday will be the second time this season that the Bulldogs and Flames have faced one another. UIC won the earlier matchup back on Sept. 27, 3-2. Drake is an even 2-2 in games from Des Moines against UIC.
UIC Leaders
Kills | Ayat Amin – 214, Cleo Lorenzo – 188, Julieta Sandez – 178
Assists | Mihaela Harizanova – 526, Francesca Venturini – 436
Digs | Hannah Howard – 216, Cleo Lorenzo – 167, Francesca Venturini – 157
Blocks | Julieta Sandez – 88, Hannah Ditsworth – 72, Ayat Amin – 62
Service Aces | Francesca Venturini – 26, Tamara Kisic – 20, Mihaela Harizanova – 19
Up Next
Drake closes out the regular season with a road trip to Evansville and Indiana State. The Bulldogs will first challenge the Purple Aces on Friday, Nov. 14 and then take on the Sycamores on Saturday, Nov. 15.
