The Basics
The Drake volleyball team closes out a four-game homestand this weekend as it welcomes Bradley and Evansville to the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs will first battle against the Braves on Friday night at 6 p.m. and then host the Purple Aces on Saturday with first serve set for 5 p.m.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
In the current MVC standings, Drake is tied for fifth with UIC holding a league record of 4-4. Bradley is tied for third with Illinois State at 6-2 and Evansville is at the bottom of the table with a league mark of 1-7. UNI sits atop the standings at 8-0. Overall, the Bulldogs are 9-11 this season after splitting its matches against UIC and Valpo last weekend.
Freshman
Kamryn Behrns had a stellar two-game performance last weekend and was named the MVC Player of the Week. Behrns racked up 36 kills averaging 4.5 per set, 26 digs averaging 3.25 per set, and 41.5 points averaging 5.18 per set. She also tacked on five blocks and three service aces to fill up the stat sheet over the weekend. The Bulldogs also had three players set career high's last weekend against Valpo.
Katie Quick recorded 55 assists, Behrns went for 18 kills and 16 digs, and
Caroline Smith tallied 16 kills.
Drake Leaders
Kills |
Lisa Melenciano – 186,
Caroline Smith – 162,
Kamryn Behrns – 143
Assists |
Katie Quick – 459,
Carolyn Maser – 309
Digs |
Jasmine Dulan – 407,
Matthea Dalton – 160,
Katie Quick – 154
Blocks |
Aniyah Davis – 71,
Bliss Beck – 62,
Lisa Melenciano – 42
Service Aces |
Jasmine Dulan – 16,
Matthea Dalton – 14,
Bella Faria – 13
Scouting Bradley
Bradley enters the weekend at 11-9 overall and 6-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play and the Braves have won three consecutive matches, including victories over Belmont, Indiana State and Southern Illinois. A standout performer for the Braves this season has been Maria Drapp, who was recently named the MVC Defensive Player of the Week. Drapp has 755 assists to top Bradley's roster and ranks second on the team with 242 digs.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against the Braves with a record of 42-35. Bradley, however, got the better of Drake from Peoria back on Oct. 3 this season with a five-set, reverse sweep victory. Bradley's win ended a seven-match win streak Drake had over the Braves. In games played from Des Moines, the Bulldogs are 22-15 against the Braves.
Bradley Leaders
Kills | Gracie Furlong – 285, Chloe Parker – 187, Adeline Goedheer – 119
Assists | Maria Drapp – 755, Eirini Bitsaktsi – 90
Digs | Eirini Bitsaktsi – 298, Maria Drapp – 242, Gracie Furlong – 221
Blocks | Adeline Goedheer – 87, Chloe Parker – 61, Mairen Mannon – 42
Service Aces | Ava Patchett – 25, Maria Drapp – 15, Eirini Bitsaktsi – 13
Scouting Evansville
The Purple Aces come into the weekend having lost five in-a-row and are 4-16 overall with a league mark of 1-7. Evansville's lone conference win of the season came on Oct. 2 against Murray State. The Purple Aces will challenge UNI on Friday before they make their trip to Des Moines. Lyla Fisher poses an offensive threat leading the team with 199 kills.
Drake is 39-26 all-time against Evansville and has won six-straight contests over the Purple Aces. The Bulldogs have a home record of 19-13 all-time against Evansville.
Evansville Leaders
Kills | Lyla Fisher – 199, Wren Jones – 191, Ryan Scheu – 162
Assists | Carsyn Kelley– 685
Digs | Kendall Agler – 255, Brooke Herdes – 181, Carsyn Kelley – 178
Blocks | Savannah Gogel – 49, Ryan Scheu – 41, Carsyn Kelley – 36
Service Aces | Brooke Herdes – 23, Carsyn Kelley – 19, Lexi Owen – 18
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road to challenge Belmont and Murray State next weekend. Drake will go up against the Bruins on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. followed by a match with the Racers on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m.
