Tulsa Drops Opening Match to Drake at Cougar Invitational, 3-0

Friday, September 1

Pullman, Wash.

Noon

Tulsa

1-2,0-0AAC

Drake

1-3,0-0MVC

Tulsa

Drake

Photo by: Campbell Rogerson

Tulsa Drops Opening Match to Drake at Cougar Invitational, 3-0

9/1/2023 2:08:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

Pullman, Wash. — The Tulsa volleyball team fell to the Drake Bulldogs 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-16) Friday afternoon in the opening match of the Cougar Invitational. The Golden Hurricane falls to 1-2 overall, while the Bulldogs improve to 1-3.

Hitting efficiency and team digs were the deciding factors in the match. Drake had 45 kills and only five errors in 80 total attacks for a .500 hitting percentage. Tulsa was held to a .087 average. Limiting Tulsa's kills were the 44 digs recorded by Drake. The Bulldogs had 19 in the third set alone to close out the match.

Graduate outside hitter Kayley Cassaday led the offensive attack with 13 kills. She had a court-leading 34 attacks and added six digs. Senior setter Avery Kalsu directed the Hurricane's offense with 23 total assists.

On the defensive side, junior libero Marta Pecalli led Tulsa with eight digs, while sophomore right side hitter Jolana Smidlova had two block assists.

Tulsa will continue action at the Cougar Invitational tonight against Northwestern State (0-4) starting at 7 p.m.

Game Notes
» Kayley Cassaday led the court with 34 total attacks.
» TU had 21 attack errors; the Bulldogs committed only five attack errors.
» Tulsa falls to 15-9 in neutral matches in the last five seasons.

How It Happened

SET 1 | Tulsa slipped early as the Bulldogs opened the first set with a 6-0 run fueled by three kills and three TU attack errors. Drake would maintain the advantage for the remainder of the stanza, leading by as many as 11 points before taking set one 25-14 over the Hurricane. Tulsa recorded 31 total attacks but landed only 11 kills compared to Drake's 15 kills in 22 attacks.

SET 2 | The Bulldogs took the second set 25-14 to make it a two-score match over Tulsa. The Hurricane fought through two tie scores in the first four rallies of the set before Drake used four-point and six-point runs to pull ahead 12-4. The Bulldogs kept the momentum from there, closing out the stanza with 13 kills and one attack error while holding Tulsa to nine kills and forcing nine errors.

SET 3 | Despite limiting errors and adding four blocks, Tulsa was unable to avoid the sweep as Drake would take the third and final set 25-16. Drake kept the ball alive with a match-best 19 digs in the stanza. The Bulldogs scored the first point and did not give up the lead once before finishing the set.

Tulsa 14 14 16
Drake 25 25 25