The 2018 Drake University volleyball team will play a total of 13 matches in the Knapp Center as part of a 31-game schedule announced by head coach Darrin McBroom Monday, May 21.
 
The Bulldogs are building off of one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2017 in which they won 23 games, the third most in program history and most since 2010. That team finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with 12 MVC wins, the second most ever by the program in an 18-game conference schedule. This year's team returns 10 members of that team including All-MVC selection Cathryn Cheek and MVC All-Freshman team honoree Emily Plock.
 
The 2018 campaign begins in Texas Aug. 24-25 with three matches at a tournament hosted by Sam Houston State. The Holy Cross Invitational follows before the Bulldogs return home to host the Drake Invitational Sept. 7-8 in the Knapp Center. Drake will host Eastern Illinois, South Dakota State, UMass-Lowell and Iowa as part of the two-day event.
 
The final non-conference tune-up comes in Columbia, Mo., at the Mizzou Invitational against Ohio, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Iowa.
 
Drake beings the MVC schedule at home Sept. 21 against in-state foe UNI followed by 17 more games against conference foes.