SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury (Mo.) claimed three sets consecutive after being down 2-0 to deny Truman State Volleyball its first victory of the season.
 
Trailing 7-8 early in the first set, Truman State tied things on a kill by Tori Creason before Emma Baierl served to an 11-8 lead. Knotted again at 12, Addy Janssen took the serve and the Bulldogs were able to score the next five for a 17-12 lead. After getting to set point at 24-19, Drury scored the next four points to threaten the Truman State lead before a Michaela Goad kill, assisted by Baierl, gave the 'Dogs a Set 1 win.
 
Twice early in Set 2 Drury was able to build four-point leads, 7-3 and again 8-4, before Truman State scored six of the next seven points with Baierl serving. Addy Janssen took the serve at 15-12 and extended the lead to 19-12 with two Goad kills on the rally. Drury got as close as 20-16 before the Bulldogs scored five of the next six to ultimately win 25-17 marking the first time the Purple and White started a match up 2-0 in 2024.
 
Creason connected with Makayla Way midway through Set 3 allowing Truman State to climb within two, 10-12, but it proved to be the closest the 'Dogs could get as Drury pulled away to win 25-14.
 
The Bulldogs built a 7-4 lead in Set 4, but the Panthers were able to tie at 8. The score again tied at 11 before Drury pulled away to a 14-11 lead they would extend to 22-16. Autumn Erickson took the serve and the 'Dogs stormed back to pull within two, 21-23, but Drury scored the final two to force the decisive fifth set.
 
Drury held the lead in Set 5 early but the Bulldogs kept pace before finally climbing in front 7-6. A Jesse Julius kill gave Truman State a 10-9 lead with Baierl serving. Drury climbed back to within one when Truman State took the serve back at 13-11 when a Panther block on a Goad kill attempt tied the score at 13 all. Creason served with the scored tied at 15 before a Drury block gave the Panthers a 16-15 advantage they would not relinquish winning 17-15.
 
The loss to Drury was Truman State's fifth consecutive five-set match and eleventh on the season. The Bulldogs fall to 0-16 overall, 0-4 GLVC, while Drury climbs to 7-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday with a 3 p.m. match at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar.