HOUSTON, Texas – Iowa State (8-7, 2-2 Big 12) fell in five at Houston (8-7, 3-2 Big 12) in set scores of 21-25, 28-26, 25-17, 26-24, 8-15 Wednesday night. ISU was shorthanded in the defeat, but hung with the Cougars taking UH to five on their home court.
Houston took the first, but Iowa State showed its resiliency after falling behind 24-20 in the second set and winning it 28-26. After the Cougars took the third 25-17, ISU bounced back again extending the set 26-24 to force a fifth, making for the Cyclones’ eighth five set match this season. Houston went on to control the fifth for the win.
Brooke Stonestreet moved herself into the all-time program top 10 in digs now totaling 1,236 in her career with 17 in the match. The libero added eight assists and two aces to her stat line.
Morgan Brandt was crucial in keeping ISU in it as the setter performed to her third straight double-double and seventh of the season with 45 assists and 14 digs. The versatile Brandt also put down five kills and served two aces.
Rachel Van Gorp moved into an offensive role, putting down eight kills to go along with 12 digs while serving a pair of aces. Paula Krzeslak made for four Cyclones with double-figure kills as she totaled 13.
Faith DeRonde delivered a career-high 17 kills to lead the Cyclones, while Lilly Wachholz was right behind with 16. Amiree Hendricks-Walker hit 10 at an impressive .529 clip, also putting up three blocks. Wachholz and Tierney Jackson led ISU with four total blocks.
Iowa State was without Nayeli Gonzalez after injury in the first set, in addition to missing Maya Duckworth and Pam McCune.
SET ONE
Gonzalez halted a 3-0 Cougar run with a kill to start, but Houston took the next four points causing an ISU timeout. The Cyclones came out of the timeout strong on a run of four including an ace by Van Gorp and kills by a trio of Cyclones. ISU pulled within one (11-10), but on the next point Gonzalez went down with an injury. Kiersten Schmitt subbed in and followed with a kill to make it 13-11. Iowa State kept with Houston, making the score 19-18 after DeRonde’s fourth kill and a Cougar attack error. With the score at 23-21, Houston went on to take the set on an ace (25-21).
SET TWO
Wachholz tipped over her fourth kill on six attempts to make it 4-4, and setter Brandt made it 5-5 after swinging and delivering the kill. At 6s, Houston followed to go up 11-7 but ISU did not let the advantage grow as DeRonde put down kill No. 7 hitting over .300 (15-13). Iowa State had its second successful challenge to then reverse the score from 19-15 to 18-16 as Schmitt’s kill was ruled in. Iowa State followed to fight off set point for the second time as Van Gorp put down the kill, making it 24-22 as Houston called a timeout. A total of seven set points were seen as Iowa State battled on to take it in extra points 28-26.
SET THREE
The third set was a tight one, but Iowa State was the first to 10 (10-8) as DeRonde entered double digits. Houston responded to lead by four at 16-12, while ISU cut it to two on Brandt’s fifth setter kill (17-15). Houston hit a scoring spree from there to find set point at 24-17 and took the third on the next point after UH’s Angela Grieve’s 14th kill. UH outhit ISU .444-.062 in the set.
SET FOUR
DeRonde kept her career night going extending a Cyclone run to three with her 12th kill, putting Iowa State up 6-4 to start the fourth. ISU continued to hold the lead, making it 14-8 on Wachholz’ 13th kill at an efficient .370 clip. Iowa State won the race to 20 as Houston held 15 on a tough solo block by Wachholz, but UH responded on a run of three. Houston knotted the score at 22s, and found match point at 24-22 but ISU battled on. Another kill by DeRonde and a Van Gorp ace put ISU back in front 25-24 and forced the fifth on the next point after a Houston error.
SET FIVE
ISU got on the board as Houston led 5-0, and the home team kept hold of the advantage as the teams swapped sides at 8-5. Houston held on to take the win 15-8.
UP NEXT
With the cancelation of Friday’s match at UCF, Iowa State next returns home Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. to host No. 23 BYU.
