VERMILLION, S.D. – The Drake volleyball team closed out its time at the South Dakota Classic on Saturday evening a suffered a straight sets loss to host institution South Dakota, 3-0.
 
The first set saw Drake race out ahead of the Coyotes following a pair of 3-0 runs for the early 6-2 advantage. As the frame moved along, however, South Dakota chipped away at the Drake lead and eventually jumped ahead with a 3-0 scoring streak of its own at the 14-13 mark. The two sides proceeded to trade points back-and-forth for a while and eventually came back to even at 19-19 following a kill by Lisa Melenciano. After that point, though, the Coyotes gained just a bit of separation from the Bulldogs scoring back-to-back points and forced a Drake timeout. That was all the separation that was need for South Dakota as it went on to win the frame, 25-21, shortly thereafter.
 
In the second, Drake and South Dakota were back to trading blows in the early goings with the teams knotted up at 7-7. After a service error put Drake out in front, 12-11, the Coyotes responded with a 4-0 run giving them the lead, 15-12. The Bulldogs battled back to take over the lead with Melenciano securing another kill along with Caroline Smith to make the score 20-19, but South Dakota countered with a pair of 3-0 streaks to take the set, 25-21.
 
The Bulldogs fell behind early in the third set following a service ace from the Coyotes that put the score at 8-4. The Coyotes then extended their lead just past the halfway point in the frame out to 14-7 after scoring four out of the last five points, which forced a timeout from Drake. After the break, the deficit for the Bulldogs only increased with the Coyotes pulling away at the 18-8 mark. South Dakota eventually ended the set at 25-13 and giving them the victory.
 
Melenciano led the Drake attack with eight kills in the match and Smith was one behind tallying seven. Macy Daufeldt and Kacia Brown each recorded six kills with the duo recording eight and 12 digs each. Bliss Beck racked up four blocks on the defensive end while Gabbie Schroeder collected a team-high 13 digs. Carolyn Maser and Katie Quick both reached double-digit assists recorded 14 and 10 helpers, respectively.
 
Drake is now slated to start conference play and will challenge Valparaiso and UIC for its next pair of matches on the road. The Bulldogs will go up against the Beacons on Sep. 26 and then battle the Flames the following night on Sep. 27.