MIAMI, Fla. – The Drake volleyball team ended its time at the 305 Challenge on Saturday afternoon with a win over Florida International in five sets.
The first set was a battle back-and-forth battle between the Bulldogs and the Panthers as the two sides came to a draw at 12-12. The set would remain close later on in the frame until Drake gained a little bit of separation with a 3-0 run to make the score 21-18. The Bulldogs went on to win the set, 25-20, after
Aniyah Davis sent home the winning kill.
In set two, Drake fell behind 8-5 in the early goings. FIU further extended its lead over the middle stages of the set that was mainly fueled by 5-0 run to push the score to 15-8. The Bulldogs managed to fight their way back to pull within one at the 21-20 mark, as
Lisa Melenciano produced back-to-back kills, but FIU pulled out the set win, 25-22.
The Panthers were out to another early lead in the third set with an 8-3 advantage. FIU further increased its lead out to 19-10 after Kira Givans caught fire with a kill streak. Drake wouldn't back down without a fight, however, and eventually fought its way back to even using a 6-0 scoring run to make the score 24-24. The Panthers ultimately claimed the set the set by winning the final two points, 26-24.
The fourth set was all Bulldogs from the get go. Drake used a 7-0 scoring streak to gain the early advantage and never relinquished the lead. FIU made it close at the 15-12 mark, but Drake immediately responded with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a
Kacia Brown service ace, to make the score 18-12. The Bulldogs capped the set and drew even at two sets apiece following a
Katie Quick kill with the final frame score at 25-20.
Drake began the fifth and final set with another early lead thanks to a 4-0 scoring run in the first four points. Drake maintained its lead over the middle course of the set as a kill by
Macy Daufeldt gave the Bulldogs an 11-6 advantage. Ultimately, it was a 3-0 from the Bulldogs that closed out the set, 15-9, and the match 3-2.
"Today was a tough one, but I'm really proud of the perseverance that our players demonstrated," Drake head coach
Darrin McBroom said.
Daufeldt had the biggest day on the stat sheet for Drake totaling 23 kills and 10 digs. Brown also had a double-double day for the Dogs with 17 kills and 13 digs.
Addison Beagle provided on both sides of the net leading Drake with 21 assists and 18 digs.
Drake's next match is scheduled for September 12 against Grand Canyon at the Husker Invitational.
