Box Score

DES MOINES, Iowa. – Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week Ashley Ring led Evansville with 11 kills, but it was Drake who came out victorious, sweeping the season series on the strength of a 3-1 victory Friday evening.
 
Ring was the lone University of Evansville (12-13, 2-8 MVC) player to finish in double figures in kills.  Brooke Maher and Hannah Wilson finished with eight apiece.  Katie Klages was the Aces leader with 26 digs while Ellen Sawin returned to her familiar spot with a team-high 29 assists.
 
Whitney Westrum, who was the Bulldogs (8-16, 4-6 MVC) top offensive threat in the first meeting, tied teammate Mancini Bentley for the top kills total for Drake with 12.
 
Game one saw Drake overcome a late six-point deficit to grab a 26-24 win over Evansville.  The Aces scored the first point of the match and would see that lead grow to 11-6 following a Sawin kill.  The Bulldogs cut into the deficit, making it a 1-point game, 12-11, before the Aces went on an 8-3 run to take their largest led to that point, 20-14. 
 
Following two quick points by Drake, Rachel TenHoor helped UE score the next four points to jump out to a 24-16 edge.  What looked like a sure victory turned sour in a hurry as the Bulldogs went on a miracle 10-0 run to grab the opening set.  Erin Roggenburg, who finished the night with eight kills, tallied half over the set-ending run.
 
Evansville regrouped to reel off the first three points of the second set, but another big run by the Bulldogs quickly put the second game out of reach for UE as they went on a 16-4 stretch.  The Aces closed to within six points on a pair of occasions before Drake came away with a 25-17 win.
 
Things finally went the Aces way in set three as they avoided the sweep with a 25-17 victory.  The Bulldogs had the hot hand early, catapulting out to a 10-5 lead on the strentch of three Westrum kills.  Evansville showed its fight, scoring the next five to tie it up at 10-10. 
 
Ashley Ring tallied three kills over a stretch that saw UE take a 19-14 advantage.  Up 24-17 after a Kaisi Nixon kill, UE finished off the set after an attack error by Drake.
 
Looking for their second comeback in as many Friday matches, Evansville opened the fourth game on an 8-2 run as Maher tallied two kills.  In a match that featured several game-changing runs, Drake put up one of their own that would finish the contest.  Utilizing five UE errors, Drake tied the score at 10-10 and from there, scored 10 of the next 13 to take a 20-13 advantage before finishing with the 25-18 win.
 
Tomorrow, Evansville continues on the road, taking on Creighton at 7 p.m.