The Basics
The Drake volleyball team closes out the non-conference season this weekend with the Kathy DeBoer Invitational Presented by Auto-Owners Insurance from East Lansing, Michigan. The Bulldogs will play two matches on Friday Sep. 18 first taking on Wright State at noon CT and then challenging Michigan State at 5 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on Big Ten+.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake will look to shake off a pair of midweek losses it suffered on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bulldogs fell to Omaha, 3-1, at home to begin their week and lost to Iowa on the road, 3-0, the following night. Libero
Jasmine Dulan was named MVC Libero of the Week on Monday following her efforts at the Kansas City Klassic last weekend. The fifth-year senior currently leads the nation in digs per set at 5.59.
Lisa Melenciano paces the Bulldog attack with 120 kills on the season so far. The senior has had a breakout season in 2026 with her 120 kills surpassing her career total prior to this year.
Drake Leaders
Kills |
Lisa Melenciano – 120,
Caroline Smith – 83,
Bliss Beck – 74
Assists |
Katie Quick – 206,
Carolyn Maser – 181
Digs |
Jasmine Dulan – 207,
Katie Quick – 90,
Carolyn Maser – 75
Blocks |
Aniyah Davis – 31,
Bliss Beck – 30,
Lisa Melenciano – 26
Service Aces |
Jasmine Dulan – 11,
Bella Faria – 9,
Matthea Dalton – 9
Scouting Wright State
The Raiders come into the weekend with an overall record of 4-5 in 2026. Wright State went 1-2 last weekend at Pittsburgh's host tournament defeating High Point but falling to Jacksonville and the No. 2 ranked Panthers. Wright State was picked first in the Horizon League Preseason Poll and returns four All-League award winners from a season ago, led by Lauren Yacobucci and Reilly Zegunis. Yacobucci leads the Raiders with 327 assists this season, while Zegunis is second on the team with 90 kills.
The matchup against Wright State will be just the third all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Raiders. The current series is tied at 1-1. Drake and Wright State met last season at the WKU Invitational from Bowling Green, Kentucky, with the Raiders getting the win in five sets.
Wright State Leaders
Kills | Mya Ayro – 109, Reilly Zegunis – 90, Katie Sowko – 82
Assists | Lauren Yacobucci – 327
Digs | Taygan Corstange – 124, Katie Sowko – 75, Lauren Yacobucci – 65
Blocks | Reilly Zegunis – 17, Lauren Yacobucci – 12, Katie Sowko – 10
Service Aces | Katie Sowko – 11, Reilly Zegunis – 7, Taygan Corstange – 6
Scouting Michigan State
The Spartans are a perfect 9-0 to start their 2026 campaign with notable wins over Miami, LSU, and South Carolina with MSU collecting sweeps over the Tigers and Gamecocks during the Big Ten/SEC Challenge. Michigan State is also currently receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Spartans return 10 letterwinners from last season's squad that recorded an 18-12 record, the most wins in a season for MSU since 2017, and are led by Karolina Staniszewska on the offensive side with 82 kills. Alanna Bankston also provides a scoring threat with 81 kills on the season for the Spartans.
Drake and Michigan State have met just once previously. That match happened in 1997 from East Lansing with Michigan State winning the contest in straight sets.
Michigan State Leaders
Kills | Karolina Staniszewska – 82, Alanna Bankston – 81, Carmen Waye – 63
Assists | Malayah Long – 284
Digs | Lia Schneider – 90, Karolina Staniszewska – 58, Malayah Long – 45
Blocks | Zora Hardison – 36, Carmen Waye – 36, Hayley Ogden – 28
Service Aces | Malayah Long – 15, Karolina Staniszewska – 10, Carmen Waye – 9
Up Next
The Bulldogs turn to their conference slate of the season and will welcome in-state rival and MVC preseason favorite UNI to the Knapp Center on Tuesday, Sep. 22. First serve against the Panthers is scheduled for 6 p.m.
