AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (9-6, 1-1 Big 12) downed No. 13 Baylor (11-3, 1-1 Big 12) in four (25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22) Wednesday night in front of a crowd of 2,642. Eleanor Holthaus hit numerous milestones with her 20-kill performance while the Cyclones ended the Bears 10-match win streak.
The victory is the first top-25 win since topping Kansas on their home court on Oct. 20, 2018. It is also the first top-25 victory at Hilton since Oct. 28, 2017, also against Kansas.
Iowa State picked up the first win over Baylor since Nov. 23, 2016 and the 25th in program history. The Cyclones tallied 66 kills over the four sets at .315, the third match of the season over .300.
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Holthaus broke 1,300 career kills on the night, becoming the sixth Cyclone to do so. Holthaus now holds 1,313 on her career to come within 21 from entering the top five in Iowa State history.
Holthaus entered Wednesday one 10-plus kill match shy of holding the sixth-most in Iowa State history with 65. The fifth-year senior responded, tallying not just 10, but 20, for the sixth 20-plus kill match of her career. Holthaus now ties the sixth-most 10-plus and the eighth-most 20-plus kill matches in program history.
Brooke Stonestreet had a 20-plus performance herself, tallying 20 digs for the fourth time of the season.
SET ONE
The Cyclones got on the board first on a Solei Thomas kill and Holthaus ace and went out to a run of 5-1 capped by another Thomas kill. Baylor came back to tie it but ISU pushed forward. Abby Greiman delivered her fourth kill at perfect hitting as the Cyclones led 13-9. ISU held the advantage on their way to set point, hitting over .400. A kill by Jaden Newsome sealed it, 25-22, as Iowa State hit .469 led by five kills each by Thomas and Greiman.
SET TWO
Both sides battled to match each other on each point up to five before the Bears went out to grab four in a row. ISU fought back within two at 9-7 on Holthaus’ fourth kill. Holthaus tallied the seventh to give her 1,300 on her career at 19-19. In the same frame, Hothaus hit two more as the Cyclones went on to take the second 25-20. The Cyclones once again hit over .300 on the set.
SET THREE
Holthaus hit her 10th kill at 6-6 to officially tally her 66th career match with 10-plus kills. Thomas followed to join with her 10th kill as Baylor led 16-12. Baylor remained ahead to force a fourth as they hit .345 in the set to end the third 25-20.
SET FOUR
Alexis Engelbrecht and Mariah Mitchell totaled the 10th block of the match to put the Cyclones ahead at 6-4. Baylor then got ahead, but Greiman hit her ninth kill to match her career high as ISU came within one at 12-11. Iowa State took the lead at 14-13 on a successful challenge on the way to the Cyclones finding 20 points first at 20-18 on Holthaus’ 20th kill. A Thomas kill brought ISU to match point leading 24-21. The top-25 victory was sealed on Thomas’ 15th kill, 25-22.
NEXT UP
Iowa State travels to meet Kansas State this Sunday. The match will be televised nationally on ESPNU at 3:30 p.m.
