The Drake University volleyball team captured the Kansas City Klassic tournament crown on September 12, 2026, by defeating the host Kansas City Roos 3-2 in a tightly contested five-set match in Kansas City, Missouri. With the victory, the Bulldogs finished the weekend tournament with a perfect 3-0 record.
Drake Dominates Opening Set Before Kansas City Fights Back
Drake established early control in the opening frame, racing out to a 9-3 advantage fueled by unforced errors from the Roos. After Kansas City narrowed the gap to 10-9, the Bulldogs engineered an 8-0 scoring run. Carolyn Maser contributed a pair of aces from the service line during the sequence, while freshman Isabelle Kremer and fellow freshman Kamryn Behrns notched kills to close out a 25-14 win.
Kansas City responded in the second set, grabbing an early 10-6 lead and fending off a late Drake charge to claim a 25-23 victory. The Roos capitalized on a 3-0 run down the stretch after the Bulldogs had narrowed the deficit to a single point at 21-20.
Defensive Blocks and Clutch Finishes Clinch Tournament Title
The Bulldogs regained momentum in the third set, utilizing a combination block from Aniyah Davis and Lisa Melenciano to build an 11-8 advantage. A subsequent 4-0 run pushed the lead to 19-10, and Drake secured the set 25-18 behind another tag-team block from Davis and Melenciano.
Although Kansas City forced a decisive fifth set by dominating the fourth frame 25-16, Drake quickly seized control of the finale. Jasmine Dulan recorded an early ace to help stake the Bulldogs to a 5-1 lead. Drake maintained its advantage, doubling up the Roos at 10-5 before closing out the 15-8 set victory to clinch the match.
Standout Performances and Upcoming Schedule
Lisa Melenciano paced the Drake offense with a team-high 12 kills, while Bliss Beck and Kamryn Behrns added 10 kills apiece. Setters Carolyn Maser and Katie Quick both posted double-doubles; Maser tallied 23 assists and 12 digs, while Quick contributed 18 assists and 11 digs. Defensively, Jasmine Dulan anchored the back row with 27 digs, helping the team accumulate 14 total blocks.
“Our team had a strong weekend going 3-0 and winning the tournament,” Drake head coach Darrin McBroom said. “I thought we displayed some resilient effort for the weekend and found a way to get it done in the fifth set against Kansas City.”
Following the tournament sweep, Drake prepares for a pair of midweek matchups. The Bulldogs host Omaha at the Knapp Center on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6 p.m., before traveling to face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 8 p.m.
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