Cyclones Hang Tough But Lose in Five to Kansas

Wednesday, October 13

Ames, Iowa

TBA

Iowa State

Kansas

Cyclones Hang Tough But Lose in Five to Kansas

10.13.2004 | Volleyball

By: Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State volleyball team played one of the best matches of its Big 12 season, but were unable to put away a scrappy Kansas team and lost, 3-2, in league action at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones lost game one, 30-23, but bounced back to take games two and three with game scores of 31-29 and 30-28, respectively. But Kansas rallied to win a hard-fought game four, 30-24, and used an early run to put ISU away early in game five, 15-5, to earn the victory. Iowa State falls to 8-9 overall and 1-8 in league action this season.

Iowa State came out with a much more efficient effort in the opening game, hitting .295 as a team. The Cyclones weren't stingy enough on defense, however, allowing a .368 percentage from the Jayhawks and dropped game one.

Game two was out of the ordinary for the Cyclones, as they were out hit, .094 to .233, but still managed a scrappy victory to knot the match at one game each at the intermission. Iowa State came out firing offensively in game three, however, posting a .412 hitting percentage, the best of the night, and earned a 30-28 win to take a 2-1 advantage.

The pivotal game four saw ISU bolt to an early lead, but the Cyclones were unable to halt a KU rally and the Jayhawks captured the game, 30-24. Kansas jumped up early in game five and dominated the final game, hitting .400 to ISU's -.045 percentage to ice the match.

"We just didn't get it done in game five," said head coach Linda Crum. "We didn't do the things we needed to do to win. We did some things well in the match, but just didn't get all those things done in that final game."

The Jayhawks posted an impressive .306 hitting percentage for the match, while ISU hit .171 on the night. The Cyclones are now 0-9 when their opponents post a better hitting percentage in the match. Iowa State was out blocked, 13-10, but aced seven serves on the night.

"Our kids are really disappointed with the outcome," said Crum. "They know they had an opportunity to win. We just broke down in communication at times, and it really cost us tonight."

Katie Jessen, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., was the leader offensively for the Cyclones. Jessen pounded 16 kills and a season-high three service aces for ISU. Jessen leads Iowa State in kills and kills per game in 2004, and led the team in kills for the sixth time this season.

Katie Kruenegel was also an extremely effective offensive weapon for the Cyclones. The junior from Leawood, Kan., notched 15 kills on 32 attempts for a .312 hitting percentage. She also led the squad with three total blocks, the tenth time this season she has headed the Iowa State blocking efforts.

Junior setter Amanda Craig was outstanding for Iowa State as well. Craig, a West Des Moines native, had eight kills and hit .353 for the match, a team-high. She racked up 49 assists and dug out 13 balls, earning a double-double for the match. Craig's double-double was her ninth of the season, a team-best, and the third time in as many matches she has posted double figures in two categories.

Senior Brittany Dalager also earned a double-double with her 11-kill, 14-dig effort. The outside hitter from Minneota, Minn., posted her seventh double-double and her fourth consecutive double-double match.

Katie Churm was excellent defensively for ISU, as the sophomore libero notched 24 digs, two shy of her career-high. The Irvine, Calif., native leads the team in digs and came into tonight's match fifth in the league standings in that category.

Another Cyclone who played well in her first extensive action in conference action was Katy Amundson. Amundson, an outside hitter from Bellaire, Texas, started her first match of the season. The junior had five kills, tying a season and career-high, and added a service ace, the first one of her career, to the Iowa State offensive effort.