STORY BY ASHLEY BEALL
The Drake volleyball team hosted its final two home games of the season last weekend.
The Bulldogs swept Indiana State Saturday at the Knapp Center.
“This match was awesome,” said redshirt sophomore Katie Allen. “Winning feels great, and I’m glad we got our first conference home win tonight for our seniors. It’s a big weekend for them. Overall, I thought our team did a really good job with serving and passing. I thought we worked really hard tonight as a team, and I am so proud of us.”
It was the Bulldogs first win at home in conference play this year. The Bulldogs sweeping the Sycamores, 25-20, 25-16 and 25-19.
Sophomore Makena Schoene and freshman Kyla Indurski led Drake with 10 kills each.
It was Indurski’s tenth double-double as she added 10 digs for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs recorded 12 blocks against the Sycamores.
The first set was hard-fought on both sides as the Sycamores and Bulldogs traded points back-and-forth.
The Sycamores attempted to slow the Bulldogs’ momentum by calling a timeout, but the Bulldogs continued their run and won 25-20.
In the second set, the Bulldogs came out swinging and never allowed the Sycamores to take the lead.
Drake finished with a .323 hitting average and took the set, 25-16.
Drake’s momentum temporarily stalled in the third set as it allowed Indiana State to take the lead early.
But the Bulldogs quickly regained their footing as they finished the set with a kill by Schoene.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs played their final home match of the season against Missouri Valley Conference leader Illinois State, falling in three sets.
The Redbirds swept the Bulldogs, 25-15, 26-24 and 25-13.
“We gave our all against the toughest competition that we’ve seen. They’re number one in the conference,” Schoene said. “I think we did a lot of things well, and I think it was a good note to end on, even though it wasn’t what we had hoped.”
Sunday was senior night for the Bulldogs, and seniors Amanda Platte, Halli Meyer and Meredith Moore’s final home game.
Platte finished the game with four kills, three digs, two blocks and one assist.
Moore played one set for the Bulldogs and Meyer recorded one dig.
With the loss, the Bulldogs moved to 3-13 in MVC play, and 11-16 overall this season.
The Redbirds remained perfect in the MVC, 16-0 and futhered their season record to 22-5 with just a few games to go.
The Bulldogs’ final games are this Friday and Saturday at Bradley and Loyola, respectively.
In their first matchup on Sept. 19, the Bulldogs bested Bradley 3-1 at the Knapp Center.
Drake hosted Loyola the same weekend, Sept. 20, and fought the Ramblers to the wire, but eventually fell in five sets, 2-3.
Schoene spoke on the final weekend of the season for the Bulldogs.
“Our goal is to take them down,” Schoene said. “We want more wins for our record. Bradley and Loyola aren’t going to leave without a fight from us.”
