AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) went the distance with Wake Forest (2-1, 0-0 ACC), coming away with the hard-fought win in the Cyclones’ third five setter of the season. The set scores came out to be 25-14, 20-25, 23-25, 25-13, 17-15.
Maya Duckworth (13) and Nayeli Gonzalez (11) made for two Cyclones with double digit kills, with Duckworth achieving her total at .323 hitting while leading the match.
Freshman Rachel Van Gorp had her first 20-dig match, upping her previous season high from 19. Van Gorp also sent over five aces, while the Cyclones totaled 14 through the match. It is the 22nd match under Christy Johnson-Lynch to serve 10 or more.
SET ONE
Iowa State got out to a hot start, building a lead of 10 at 13-3. The Cyclones continued to hold a dominant lead throughout. A Lilly Wachholz ace would seal the set 25-14 to take the match lead. Kiersten Schmitt led all players with four kills in the set.
SET TWO
The next set was a closer one with nine ties were seen as the set reached 13-13. A rally lasting over a minute then broke out, with ISU coming away with the point after Pam McCune sealed it with a kill to make it 14-14. With the score tied at 15s, Wake Forest would then go on to find a lead, going up 20-17. The Demon Deacons would take the set 25-20.
SET THREE
Another close set followed as the sides remained within two of each other as the score was brought to 10-9, ISU. The Cyclones then hit a 3-0 run capped with an ace Morgan Brandt snuck inbounds to put Iowa State ahead 13-10. Wake Forest answered with a run of their own, this one of eight straight to take the 17-13 advantage. A kill by Gonzalez, her eighth, would halt the run. ISU fought back to tie things at 20s following a pair of Duckworth kills and another by Gonzalez. Wake Forest then found set point, with ISU fighting it off twice, but the visitors would take the set 25-23.
SET FOUR
Following a tie at 7s, Tierney Jackson sent the kill that sparked a scoring spree as ISU began to build a lead. A run including aces, blocks and kills aided Iowa State to hold a 22-11 advantage. Jackson would put down another to find set point, while a Duckworth ace followed to force a fifth by a set score of 25-13.
SET FIVE
A successful Iowa State challenge gave the Cyclones a 5-4 lead and made for a run of three. Jackson had another crucial kill to give the Cyclones the 8-7 lead as the teams switched sides. The score continued to be knotted up, but an Amiree Hendricks-Walker kill gave ISU the slight 10-9 edge. Wake Forest would remain within a point of ISU’s lead, and tied it at 13s. Duckworth then delivered the kill as Iowa State reached match point. Wake Forest extended the set, fighting off match point three times. On ISU’s fourth opportunity, the Cyclones came away victorious on an Emily Bobbitt ace, 17-15.
UP NEXT
Iowa State next plays Illinois to close the Cyclone Invite Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. Following the tournament, ISU hosts the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
