AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) took the season-opening victory against South Dakota (0-1, 0-0 Summit) in sweep with set scores of 25-16, 25-20, 25-17. The Cyclones hit at .309 as a team through the night, marking the first time since Sept. 28, 2022 against No. 13 Baylor to hit a mark over .300.
Annie Hatch picked right up from where she left off last season, leading the match with 14 kills at .379 hitting. The freshman duo of Nayeli Gonzalez and Pam McCune also filled the stat sheet in their collegiate debuts, as Gonzalez tallied 11 (.385 hitting) and McCune dialed in five (.556 hitting) to go along with three blocks. Jordan Hopp added seven kills at an efficiency of .462 as ISU totaled 46.
Sophomore Morgan Brandt took the start at setter, notching her third-career double-double with 33 assists and 13 digs, both career highs. Brandt led the team with her dig total.
SET ONE
Gonzalez fired off her first career kill to kick off the match and put the Cyclones up first. ISU and South Dakota went back and forth before Iowa State began to build a lead following McCune notching her first kill to put the score at 8-6. ISU remained ahead by six, reaching 20 points after a 3-0 scoring run. The Cyclones continued to hold the momentum, sealing the set on another scoring run, 25-16. Hatch totaled six kills while Gonzalez notched five in the frame, both with zero errors.
SET TWO
Hatch continued her hot streak totaling five in the next set including back-to-back kills to stretch a lead of seven at 11-4. The freshman duo of McCune and Gonzalez remained dominant as they combined for their second block of the night, putting the score at 18-11. Gonzalez sealed the set with her seventh slam to put Iowa State up 2-0 with a set score of 25-20.
SET THREE
Iowa State scored four-straight to begin the third with the advantage of 5-2. South Dakota briefly took a lead of 7-6 before ISU fought back taking the next seven points in a run powered by two additional Hatch kills. Iowa State reached match point at 24-15 on a Brandt kill before SD took the next two points. Another Brandt kill sealed the match in the Cyclones’ favor at 25-17 to bring in the season-opening victory.
NEXT UP
Iowa State continues the Cardinal and Gold Challenge meeting DePaul Sunday, August 27 at 1 p.m.
