AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (19-11, 10-6 Big 12) defeated Oklahoma (15-12, 5-10 Big 12) in four sets Wednesday night for its 10th conference win by set scores of 25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23.
A crowd of 3,848, just outside the all-time top-10, came out to see the Cyclones post their first season since 2017 to finalize 10 Big 12 wins.
Eleanor Holthuas’ final night in Hilton did not disappoint, totaling 18 kills (.318 hitting), nine digs, three blocks and three aces. Holthaus now holds 78 matches through her career with 10 or more.
Maya Duckworth posted her second-straight double-double and seventh this season, ending the night with 14 kills and 11 digs in addition to two blocks.
Solei Thomas was the third in double figures, posting 12 kills and two blocks.
SET ONE
Iowa State began ahead 5-2 after two successful challenges while OU answered to take a lead of its own at 8-6. ISU hit a run featuring three kills, two aces and a block to pull momentum in the Cyclones’ favor to follow and lead 14-9. The Cyclones held the lead from there, ending the set at 25-18 on Morgan Brandt’s second ace. Thomas led the set with six kills at .625 hitting, while the team hit .433.
SET TWO
Duckworth extended her perfect hitting from the first set, slamming down her sixth kill at .750 hitting to hold the advantage of 9-6. The lead held up as Duckworth, Thomas and Holthaus all hit over .365. After going back-and-forth trading points, Holthaus nailed down her seventh kill to put the score at 23-20. OU fought off three set points as Oklahoma’s Megan Wilson dialed in over 10 kills, but ISU kept up the fight to take a 2-0 match lead.
SET THREE
ISU converted its first three attempts for kills to begin the third. After a tie of 5-5, the Sooners went ahead by four until a Holthaus kill ended the run. With the scoreboard at 11-6, Holthaus hit double digits on her 10th kill. The Cyclones continued to cut into OU’s lead while Thomas joined Holthaus in double figures to make the score 15-10. Oklahoma continued to lead ISU, winning by 25-17 and holding the Cyclones to .062 hitting.
SET FOUR
Duckworth became the third Cyclone with 10 kills to put the Cyclones on the board at 1-1. Holthaus continued to dominate the night, notching her 16th kill to build a lead of three at 15-12. Oklahoma continued to keep things close while taking the lead back at 20-19 on two-straight Wilson kills. Iowa State came right back to retake the advantage on another Holthaus kill followed by a Duckworth solo block. The match ended on a Duckworth kill by a set score of 25-23.
NEXT UP
Iowa State will wait to hear its name called during the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Selection Show this Sunday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. CT
