Bulldogs Drop Conference Opener to Panthers

DES MOINES, Iowa  – The Drake volleyball team started its conference slate as it hosted in-state rival Northern Iowa on Tuesday night from the Knapp Center and lost in straight sets, 3-0. Drake and UNI went back-and-forth in the early stages of set one and Carolyn Maser brought the score even at 5-5 with a service ace to get some momentum rolling for the Bulldogs. From that point forward, however, the set was controlled by UNI. The Panthers used consecutive runs of 3-0 and 4-0 to go up 14-7 and double up the Bulldogs just before the media timeout. UNI…