The Basics 
The Drake volleyball team is set to close out its non-conference portion of the season with its final tournament at the South Dakota Classic. The Bulldogs are slated to play three matches over three days starting on Thursday, Sep. 18 against Wichita State. On Friday, Drake will go up against Villanova and then close out the tournament against host institution South Dakota on Saturday.
  
Bulldogs by the Numbers 
Drake comes into the South Dakota Classic with an overall record of 3-5 after participating in three tournaments to begin its 2025 campaign. The Bulldogs look to end a two-game skid after falling to Grand Canyon and No. 22 Utah last week at the Husker Invitational from Lincoln, Nebraska. Through its eight matches this season, the Bulldogs have played five matches to a complete five sets. Drake has yet to have a match completed in four sets in 2025.
 
Drake Leaders 
Kills | Macy Daufeldt – 116, Kacia Brown – 96, Caroline Smith – 55
Assists | Addison Beagle – 146, Katie Quick – 125, Madison Geise – 31
Digs | Macy Daufeldt– 83, Gabbie Schroeder – 79, Kacia Brown – 75
Blocks | Bliss Beck – 36, Aniyah Davis – 19, Caroline Smith – 17
Service Aces | Kacia Brown – 11, Katie Quick – 7, Macy Daufeldt – 7
 
Scouting Wichita State
The Shockers are off to a 6-3 start to begin their season with a notable win over Arkansas, who was receiving votes in the national poll at the time of the match. WSU has played two ranked opponents this season in No. 18 BYU and No. 17 Kansas and fell in both contests. Wichita State swept the Golden Eagle Invitational last week and never dropped a set in the tournament.
 
In a match of former Missouri Valley Conference foes, Wichita State leads the all-time series over Drake, 49-11. The Bulldogs have lost 36 consecutive matches against the Shockers with its last win coming in 1999.
 
Wichita State Leaders
Kills | Sydney Dunning – 127, Brooklyn Leggett – 93, Emerson Wilford – 48
Assists | Jordan Heatherly – 302, Gabi Maas – 29
Digs | Gabi Maas – 118, Katie Galligan – 99, Sydney Dunning – 91
Blocks | Maddie Wilson – 37, Brooklyn Leggett – 22, Jordan Heatherly – 13
Service Aces | Jordan Heatherly – 11, Maddie Wilson – 7
 
Scouting Villanova
The Wildcats are off to a perfect 8-0 start to their 2025 season. Villanova is coming of two wins last weekend at the Old Dominion Invitational over Delaware and Old Dominion and also holds a win over Notre Dame this season. The Wildcats were picked fifth in the Big East Conference preseason poll, which is in the top half of a challenging league.
 
Friday's matchup with Villanova marks the first ever meeting on the court between the Bulldogs and Wildcats. 
 
Villanova Leaders
Kills | Abby Harrell – 123, Campbell McKinnon – 97, Cat Young – 89
Assists | Alyssa Nelson – 194, Ava Harris – 179
Digs | Abby Harrell – 83, Alyssa Nelson – 75, Lola Buck-Taylor – 64
Blocks | Campbell McKinnon – 27, Reagan McGivern – 26, Ava Mehrten – 20
Service Aces | Abby Harrell – 16, Cat Young – 11
 
Scouting South Dakota
South Dakota currently holds a record of 6-3 and has gone 2-1 in each of its three early season tournaments that it has participated in. The Coyotes three losses have come against notable teams in Oregon (RV), UCONN, and No. 17 Kansas. The reigning Summit League Tournament Champions was voted second in the 2025 preseason Summit League poll.
 
Against South Dakota, Drake is 3-5 all-time. The two sides met last year with the Coyotes winning, 3-1, in a neutral site contest from Iowa City. 
 
South Dakota Leaders
Kills | Lauren Medeck – 137, Amanda Loschen – 80, Ava Ball – 69
Assists | Avery Van Hook – 351, Kamryn Farris – 53
Digs | Kamryn Farris – 170, Avery Van Hook – 111, Lauren Medeck – 102
Blocks | Morgan Bode – 31, Audrey Nelson – 27, Amanda Loschen – 27
Service Aces | Kamryn Farris – 15, Lauren Medeck – 8, Sam Untiedt – 8
 
Up Next 
The Bulldogs will begin their conference slate with a pair of games next weekend on the road against Valparaiso (Sep. 26) and UIC (Sep. 27).