MVC Tournament Update: Drake, Valpo Win on Day 1

Hammons Student Center ■ Springfield, Mo.

Thursday, November 22

No. 3 Bradley vs. No. 6 Drake…………….. DU, 3-2

No. 4 Valpo vs. No. 5 Missouri St… VALPO, 3-2

Friday, November 23

No. 2 Illinois State vs. No. 6 Drake……… 6 PM

No. 1 UNI vs. No. 4 Valparaiso……….. 8:30 PM

Saturday, November 24

Championship Game…………………….. … 5 PM

1st time in MVC Tournament history that both quarterfinal matches went five sets
The last time there were two five set matches on the same day of the MVC Tournament was in the 2008 semifinals
Bradley’s Yavianliz Rosado set a new MVC Tournament record for digs in a single match, totaling 40 digs in the loss to Drake. Courtney Pence of Illinois State held the record with 38 (11/25/16 vs. Missouri State)

No. 2 Illinois State vs. No. 6 Drake

The Redbirds are making the program’s 31st appearance in the MVC Tournament semifinals
Illinois State has the second most MVC Tournament wins with 39, trailing only UNI
Illinois State is making the program’s 3rd-straight MVC Tournament semifinal appearance.
ISU’s Courtney Pence currently ranks fifth (2,714) all-time in NCAA Division I volleyball history in the career dig category. She needs just 39 digs to jump into fourth all-time, passing Valparaiso’s Taylor Root (2009-12). If she does so, she will become the highest-ranking player who played her entire career in the 25-point era.
Drake earned its first MVC Tournament win since 1998 (3-0 sweep of Wichita State) and became the first No. 6 seed to win a game in the MVC Tournament (0-23 previously).
The win was just the fifth tournament win for Drake in MVC tourney history.
Illinois State is 3-2 against Drake in the MVC Tournament. Redbirds won the last meeting against Drake 3-0 in 1996 title match.
The Bulldogs are making the program’s sixth semifinal appearance and are 3-2 in the MVC Tournament semifinal matches. Beat Illinois State in 1994 and 1995 and UNI in 1996 to reach tourney final.

No. 1 UNI vs. No. 4 Valparaiso

The Panthers are making the program’s 34th straight Gateway/MVC Tournament semifinal appearance.
UNI’s streak dates all the way back to the 1985 season.
UNI has the most MVC Tournament wins of any league school – 44
UNI will be looking for the program’s 24th MVC title match appearance, the most in the MVC.
Valparaiso won its first MVC Tournament match and now sits 1-1 overall in tourney play.
This will be the first meeting between Valpo and UNI in the MVC Tournament.
The Panthers are 4-3 in the MVC Tournament semifinal matches in Springfield (lost to Drake in 1996, Wichita State in 2012 and 2015)
UNI is 3-1 in MVC Tournament championship matches in Springfield (Won 1991 title vs. Wichita State; Lost 1993 title vs. Missouri State; Won 2003 title vs. Missouri State; Won 2007 title vs. Illinois State)

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