The Basics
The Drake volleyball team begins league play this week as it welcomes in-state rival Northern Iowa to the Knapp Center on Tuesday night (Sep. 22) followed by another home match versus Murray State on Friday night (Sep. 25). Both contests from the Knapp Center this week will begin at 6 p.m. CT.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake looks to bounce back after a tough week where it lost four matches in a span of four days. The Bulldogs fell to Omaha and Iowa in a pair of midweek matches and then went 0-2 at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational over the weekend losing to Wright State and Michigan State from East Lansing, Michigan. Drake finished its non-conference portion of the season with an overall record of 5-7.
Lisa Melenciano paces the Bulldogs attack this season and leads the team with 137 kills. The senior currently ranks seventh in the MVC in total kills and ranks sixth in the league averaging 3.26 kills per set.
Jasmine Dulan continues to set the tone for the Bulldogs defensively and leads the league with 245 digs and 5.70 digs per set. In terms of national rankings, Dulan ranks third in total digs and first in digs per set. Meanwhile, Drake's dynamic pair of setters,
Katie Quick and
Carolyn Maser, have both reached 200 assists on the season with Quick tallying 237 and Maser going for 200.
Drake Leaders
Kills |
Lisa Melenciano – 137,
Caroline Smith – 98,
Bliss Beck – 80
Assists |
Katie Quick – 237,
Carolyn Maser – 200
Digs |
Jasmine Dulan – 245,
Katie Quick – 97,
Carolyn Maser – 82
Blocks |
Aniyah Davis – 34,
Bliss Beck – 32,
Lisa Melenciano – 30
Service Aces |
Jasmine Dulan – 13,
Bella Faria – 10,
Matthea Dalton – 10
Scouting UNI
The Panthers, who were picked to win the league in the MVC Preseason Poll, concluded their non-conference slate with a 6-5 record and are coming off two wins over Wichita State last weekend. UNI has been a dominant force in the league over the years having won 52 straight regular season conference matches and 60 straight conference matches including postseason play. UNI's last loss to a league opponent was to Drake on Nov. 16, 2022. The Panthers are led offensively by the duo of Lily Dykstra and Cassidy Hartman. Hartman leads the team with 184 kills and Dykstra is next in line with 167. Meanwhile, setter Reese Booth has complied nine double-doubles this season.
The all-time series between Drake and UNI sees the Panthers hold the lead, 82-7. UNI has won nine-straight over the Bulldogs including three of the last four MVC Tournament title matches. Drake is 4-36 all-time in home matches against UNI.
UNI Leaders
Kills | Cassidy Hartman – 184, Lily Dykstra – 167, Isabelle Elliott – 83
Assists | Reese Booth – 409
Digs | Jadyn Petersen – 192, Reese Booth – 141, Cassidy Hartman – 136
Blocks | Grace Hannam – 46, Maryn Bixby – 28, Cassidy Hartman – 26
Service Aces | Jadyn Petersen – 12, Reese Booth – 9, Lily Dykstra – 8
Scouting Murray State
The Racers have had a tough start to their 2026 season and will make the trip to Des Moines with an overall record of 2-10. Murray States two wins this season have come against Northern Illinois and The Citadel. The Racers are a young team under first-year head coach Tristyn Krzos and lost 45% of their points, 60% of kills and 43% of digs from last years squad.
The Bulldogs are a perfect 6-0 all-time against Murray State. Last season, Drake swept Murray State in the meeting from Des Moines. Over the six matches between Drake and Murray State, the Bulldogs lead in an aggregate score of sets, 18-5.
Murray State Leaders
Kills | Anne Makowski – 139, Maezi Snyder – 73, Lily Evans – 67
Assists | Katie Titus – 233, Paige Brock – 141
Digs | Ada Tamturk – 144, Katie Titus – 72, Mija Pristovnik – 69
Blocks | Lily Evans – 32, Maezi Snyder – 26, Alexa Watts – 20
Service Aces | Lily Evans – 9, Mija Pristovnik – 9, Paige Brock – 8
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road for a pair of matches against Illinois State and Bradley. Drake will take on the Redbirds on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. and then follow against the Braves on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.
