CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Drake volleyball team began its time in Southern Florida for the 305 Challenge on Thursday evening and opened up tournament play against Miami (FL). The Hurricanes got the better of the Bulldogs, defending their home court in a 3-0 sweep.
 
The Bulldogs found themselves facing a deficit early on in the first set against the Hurricanes as a kill from Ariana Rodriguez put the score at 9-5. Miami continued to hold its lead through the middle stage of the set and pushed its lead out over Drake to 19-13 following a 4-0 scoring spurt. When the frame reached set point at 24-19, the Bulldogs nearly pulled off the comeback and rallied with a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by back-to-back kills by Macy Daufeldt, but came up just short with Miami ending the run and taking the set, 25-23.
 
In the second set Drake and Miami battled back-and-forth over the first eight points coming to a draw at 4-4. Bliss Beck and Caroline Smith each recorded kills for the Bulldogs in that stretch to get the Bulldogs going. The Hurricanes, however, pulled away with a scoring run to go up 10-6 shortly after. Beck and the Bulldogs pulled back within one at 12-11 following a service ace from the sophomore, but another scoring spurt from the Canes, this time a 5-0 run, distanced themselves from Drake. Miami went on to take the second set, 25-15, winning seven of the final eight points.
 
Set three saw Miami race out to another early lead, 4-1. A few moments later, the Hurricanes stretched their lead out further using a 4-0 run to go up 12-4. The deficit grew to as much as 19-11 for Drake, but the Bulldogs cut it back down to a five-point set at 20-15 taking five of six points with Kacia Brown leading the charge with three kills. That would be as close as Drake would get, however, as Miami eventually won the frame, 25-17, and the match, 3-0.

"Our team played well tonight and did a lot of good things, but Miami just played a very clean game and was very good," Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said. "Kacia was outstanding leading the offense tonight and had her best game as a Bulldog so far this season."
 
Brown paced the Bulldog attack and was the only Drake player in double-digit kills with 13. Daufeldt was next in line with seven followed by Caroline Smith with five. The combo of Katie Quick and Addison Beagle dished out a combined 27 assists. On the defensive side, Smith and Aniyah Davis each recorded three blocks, and Gabbie Schroeder tallied nine digs in the contest.
 
Drake returns to the court tomorrow to take on North Texas for its second match of the 305 Challenge. The Bulldogs and Mean Green will face off against one another at noon CT.