ISU Notches Second Win at Mizzuno/Auburn Challenge

Saturday, September 4

Auburn, Ala.

10 a.m.

Iowa State

East Tennessee State

ISU Notches Second Win at Mizzuno/Auburn Challenge

09.04.2004 | Volleyball

By: Iowa State University

AUBURN, Ala. - The Iowa State volleyball team moved to 2-0 in 2004, as it cruised to an easy three-game victory over East Tennessee State in the second round of the Mizzuno/Auburn Challenge. The Cyclones captured games by winning 30-22, 30-16 and 30-22. Iowa State will face host Auburn at 7 p.m. to cap off the two-day event.

The Cyclones continued to shine offensively in the second match of the season, racking up 47 kills in 130 attempts. Katie Kruenegel, a junior from Leawood, Kan., led the ISU offensive attack for the second match in a row. She pounded 11 kills on 29 attempts and added six digs and two blocks to the defensive effort for ISU.

"Katie has just been outstanding in both matches," associate head coach Amy Farber Knowles said. "For her to have the kind of hitting percentage she's had is amazing and she has just been tremendous so far for us."

Nicole Lorenzen, a sophomore from Fremont, Iowa, also had her second consecutive outstanding match, as she smashed 10 kills in 23 attempts for the Cyclones. Lorenzen also added four digs for the Cyclones.

Equally impressive for the second match in a row was the Cyclone defensive effort. ISU tallied 58 digs and seven blocks against the Buccaneers, led by sophomore Katie Jessen. Jessen, a native of Kansas City, Mo., had 14 digs and a block to lead the ISU defensive effort. Jessen was also effective on the offensive end for Iowa State, notching eight kills in 19 attempts.

"I think maybe the most important thing so far has been our defense and passing," said Knowles. "Jessen, Katie Churm, Brittany Dalager and Christine Smeele did an excellent job of getting passes up and getting into our offense."

The Cyclones were also given a glimpse of the future with solid contributions from two true freshmen, Meghan Ferrie and Erin Boeve. Ferrie, from Lee's Summitt, Mo., pounded eight kills and had one dig in the victory. Boeve, a native of Steen, Minn., also added eight kills and had three digs and a block.

"Maybe the highlight of the match was the play of our freshmen, Boeve and Ferrie," Knowles said. "Meghan came in and had some outstanding plays, including a couple of big kills, and Erin has been great in both matches and played well again today."

The Cyclones, who captured the initial tournament of the season in 2003, the Cyclone Heritage Classic, hope to repeat that opening performance as they seek a 2004 tournament title this evening against the Auburn Tigers. The concluding game of the tournament will be played at 7 p.m.