AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (3-2, 0-0 Big 12) dropped the five setter to unbeaten Illinois (4-0, 0-0 Big 10) Saturday. It was the Cyclones’ fourth match of the season to go the distance. ISU won the first two sets 25-22, 25-20, but dropped the next three 17-25, 21-25, 13-15.
Despite leading 2-0, Illinois did not let up and won the next three to take the reverse sweep. Iowa State hit at .296 in the first while holding Illinois to an under .200 clip. Both teams hit over .300 in the third, but Illinois would continue to hit over .300 in the fourth and fifth to win.
Pam McCune had an incredible match with 10 blocks (2 solo, 8 assisted), making for the first match by a Cyclone since Aug. 31, 2019 to total at least 10.
Maya Duckworth (13) and Nayeli Gonzalez (12) led the Cyclones in kills, with Duckworth hitting at .233 and Gonzalez at .296. Morgan Brandt had a double-double with 44 assists and 12 digs, while libero Rachel Van Gorp also had double-digit digs with 12.
Iowa State had its second day in a row with 10 or more aces, serving up 10. It is now the 23rd match under Christy Johnson-Lynch with 10-plus. Van Gorp and Faith DeRonde served three aces, and Brandt and Duckworth each had a pair.
SET ONE
Iowa State fell behind 8-4 and remained behind deep into the set. The Cyclones kept in it, eventually taking a lead of 20-19 on a Van Gorp ace. Van Gorp served another to follow and Iowa State took the set 25-22. Duckworth led the Cyclones with five aces at .417 hitting in the first.
SET TWO
Many ties were seen in the early goings. While Illinois led by three (16-13) ISU took back a lead on yet another Duckworth kill making it 17-17 and causing an Illinois timeout. Illinois would tie it but never take back a lead as the Cyclones won it 25-20. Eleven ties and five lead changes marked the set.
SET THREE
A kill by Brandt squared things up at 13s, but Illinois followed on a run remaining ahead throughout the rest of the set to stave off the sweep. ISU fell 17-25 in the frame despite hitting at .333. Gonzalez led ISU with four kills in the frame at .500, but the Cyclones did not have an answer for Illinois’ Raina Terry who hit eight in the set. Terry totaled 25 kills in the match.
SET FOUR
The set remained close halfway through, but Illinois would stretch a lead out to five as they reached 20 points. ISU made it a three-point set at 23-20 but Illinois would force a fifth by a set score of 25-21. Gonzalez again led the Cyclones in the frame with an errorless five kills at .455.
SET FIVE
The set was a close one, with Illinois holding the one-point edge to switch sides with the 8-7 lead. Illinois would take the next three points to begin building an advantage. After a successful ISU challenge with Illinois up, the score flipped from 15-12 to 14-13, but Illinois took the next point and the victory.
UP NEXT
Iowa State next hosts the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
