Creighton University
Drake
Drake Upends Volleyball in Four Sets
10/10/2009 9:15:00 PM | Volleyball
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake scored the final five points of the match, overcoming a 21-20 fourth set deficit to defeat visiting Creighton by a 25-18, 15-25, 26-24, 25-21 score in college volleyball action on Saturday night in Des Moines.
Drake improved to 13-7 on the season, matching its most wins in a season since 1998. Creighton fell to 6-11 with the setback. Both teams are now 3-4 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
Drake controlled the first set thanks to an early 10-1 run that put it ahead 13-4. Drake mantained its steady lead to 19-10, which was more than enough when CU dented that lead with a 4-1 spurt to get within 20-15, only to see Drake score the next three points to win going away. Drake hit .303 in the first set while spreading its 14 kills among eight players.
The second set saw Creighton return the favor to even the match heading into intermission. Tied at 8, Creighton served up three aces during a 9-1 run that put the Jays up 17-9. Creighton continued its uptick throughout the set, winning the second frame 25-15 on an attack error by Bulldog sophmore Mikayla Sims.
The third set was the most competitive of the night, featuring several long rallies, before Drake emerged with a 26-24 win. Creighton fell behind 14-9 early on before clawing back to tie the score at 17. Creighton would go ahead 21-20 on a Jessica Houts kill, only to surrender a 4-1 run that gave DU two set points. A kill from Laurel Sanford and a Drake hitting error evened the score at 24, but consecutive CU hitting errors gave the Bulldogs the third set.
Trailing 19-17 late, Creighton got three straight kills from Sanford to take a 20-19 lead. After the teams traded sideouts, Drake would score the final five points of the night. Emily Madden slammed a kill to tie the score, before CU made four straight attack errors to end the match. Two of those points were a direct result of Drake blocks, and the night concluded when a Sanford swing sailed wide.
Allie Oelke topped CU with 15 kills and 11 digs, while Houts had 12 kills, six digs and four blocks. Creighton finished with 51 kills, six aces, 68 digs and six blocks while hitting .114.
Drake was led by Bys, who had 16 kills in 43 swings. Alana Wittenburg led all players with 27 digs, while Michelle Reidy had nine kills and a team-high four blocks. DU had 49 kills, three aces, 70 digs and eight blocks while hitting .180.
Creighton returns to action next Friday with a 7 pm match at Evansville.
NOTES: Allie Oelke had her fourth double-double in seven league matches ...The match was Drake's first four-set victory of the season ...Drake's seven home wins are its most since 1999 ...Creighton had alternated wins and losses in its first six league contests before taking its second straight loss tonight.
