Completed Event: Volleyball at UNI on September 9, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3
Final
Volleyball
1
UNI
3
Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, September 4
Auburn, Ala.
7 p.m.
Iowa State University
3
at
2
Auburn
Iowa State Captures 2004 Mizuno/Auburn Challenge
09.04.2004 | Volleyball
AUBURN, Ala. - The 2004 ISU volleyball squad began its season in dynamic fashion, as they have captured the championship of the Mizuno/Auburn Challenge, hosted by Auburn University this weekend. The Cyclones earned title honors by defeating Auburn in five games in the final match of the two-day tournament. ISU went 3-0 to win the event, beating Birmingham Southern, East Tennessee State and Auburn in successive matches. Three Iowa State players were honored with all-tournament team selections.
The Cyclones defeated the Tigers in the title match, 3-2, by winning games two, four and five. ISU won game two, 30-20, game four, 30-28, and captured the deciding game, 15-11. Auburn won games one and three, with scores of 30-24 and 30-28, respectively.
"I didn't think it was one of our prettiest matches," associate head coach Amy Knowles Farber said. "But we found a way, and I think it was because we played to win as opposed to playing not to lose."
Iowa State was led at the tournament by junior Katie Kruenegel. Kruenegel, a junior from Kansas City, Mo., smashed 13 kills against Auburn, tying for the team lead in the match. Kruenegel pounded 38 kills in three matches to spur the Cyclone attack, and was the offensive catalyst for ISU in all three matches. She was recognized for her performance, as she garnered tournament MVP honors.
"Katie was our leader offensively all weekend," said Knowles. "She was just outstanding and really performed well for us. She deserved the MVP honors she received."
Another outstanding performer for the Cyclones throughout the event was junior setter Amanda Craig. Craig, a West Des Moines native, tallied 54 assists in the championship match. Craig had 125 assists in the three matches of the tournament, and earned all-tournament honors for ISU.
"Amanda played well tonight," Knowles said. "She ran the offense well and got the ball where we needed it tonight. She really had a good weekend."
One of the keys to ISU's success was the outstanding defensive performance throughout the tournament.
Leading that effort was sophomore Katie Churm, a defensive specialist/libero from Irvine, Calif. Churm led ISU with 26 digs against Auburn and also recorded two service aces. Churm had 58 digs in three matches, leading all Cyclones in that category. Churm was the third Iowa State player to receive post-tournament recognition, as she joined Kruenegel and Craig on the all-tournament team.
"Katie Churm was a huge key for us all weekend," said Knowles. "She really allowed us to run our offense in all three matches. She was very important to the passing we needed to have to help us win and she did a great job for the team."
Another outstanding performer for ISU was sophomore Nicole Lorenzen. Lorenzen, a redshirt sophomore from Fremont, smashed 11 kills to help defeat the Tigers, giving her 30 for the tournament. Lorenzen recorded a double-double in the title match, notching 12 digs in addition to her offensive efforts. It was the first double-double effort for any Cyclone in the young season.
The play of two freshmen was also an integral factor to Iowa State's tournament title efforts. Meghan Ferrie and Erin Boeve, both true freshmen, played exceptionally well against Auburn. Boeve, from Steen, Minn., tied Kruenegel for the team lead in kills in the championship match, pounding 13. Ferrie, a native of Lee's Summitt, Mo., was right behind her, as she smashed 12 for the Cyclones. ISU's freshmen combined for 47 kills at the tournament.
"Our two freshmen were really great again tonight," said Knowles. "Even though they are young, and they will get better, they were really huge for us and were a big reason for our success."
The Mizuno/Auburn Challenge title marked the third consecutive season in which the Cyclones opened the season with a tournament championship. ISU captured successive titles at their own Cyclone Heritage Classic in 2002 and 2003. It was the first road tournament that Iowa State has won since 1997, when Iowa State won the Hofstra Invitational. It was also the first tournament title at ISU for associate head coach Amy Farber Knowles, who has handled the coaching duties for Linda Crum, absent from the team due to the birth of her second daughter on Aug. 22.
"Getting that first tournament out of the way and getting three wins was really gratifying for us," Knowles said. "We made some mistakes, and we still need to improve, but it was good to get that tournament under our belt and get some wins as well. We have a young team that will only get better."
Iowa State's next contest will be a road game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. ISU will travel to another tournament next weekend, as they will go to the USTA Invitational, hosted by the University of Texas-San Antonio on Sept. 10-11.
The Cyclones defeated the Tigers in the title match, 3-2, by winning games two, four and five. ISU won game two, 30-20, game four, 30-28, and captured the deciding game, 15-11. Auburn won games one and three, with scores of 30-24 and 30-28, respectively.
"I didn't think it was one of our prettiest matches," associate head coach Amy Knowles Farber said. "But we found a way, and I think it was because we played to win as opposed to playing not to lose."
Iowa State was led at the tournament by junior Katie Kruenegel. Kruenegel, a junior from Kansas City, Mo., smashed 13 kills against Auburn, tying for the team lead in the match. Kruenegel pounded 38 kills in three matches to spur the Cyclone attack, and was the offensive catalyst for ISU in all three matches. She was recognized for her performance, as she garnered tournament MVP honors.
"Katie was our leader offensively all weekend," said Knowles. "She was just outstanding and really performed well for us. She deserved the MVP honors she received."
Another outstanding performer for the Cyclones throughout the event was junior setter Amanda Craig. Craig, a West Des Moines native, tallied 54 assists in the championship match. Craig had 125 assists in the three matches of the tournament, and earned all-tournament honors for ISU.
"Amanda played well tonight," Knowles said. "She ran the offense well and got the ball where we needed it tonight. She really had a good weekend."
One of the keys to ISU's success was the outstanding defensive performance throughout the tournament.
Leading that effort was sophomore Katie Churm, a defensive specialist/libero from Irvine, Calif. Churm led ISU with 26 digs against Auburn and also recorded two service aces. Churm had 58 digs in three matches, leading all Cyclones in that category. Churm was the third Iowa State player to receive post-tournament recognition, as she joined Kruenegel and Craig on the all-tournament team.
"Katie Churm was a huge key for us all weekend," said Knowles. "She really allowed us to run our offense in all three matches. She was very important to the passing we needed to have to help us win and she did a great job for the team."
Another outstanding performer for ISU was sophomore Nicole Lorenzen. Lorenzen, a redshirt sophomore from Fremont, smashed 11 kills to help defeat the Tigers, giving her 30 for the tournament. Lorenzen recorded a double-double in the title match, notching 12 digs in addition to her offensive efforts. It was the first double-double effort for any Cyclone in the young season.
The play of two freshmen was also an integral factor to Iowa State's tournament title efforts. Meghan Ferrie and Erin Boeve, both true freshmen, played exceptionally well against Auburn. Boeve, from Steen, Minn., tied Kruenegel for the team lead in kills in the championship match, pounding 13. Ferrie, a native of Lee's Summitt, Mo., was right behind her, as she smashed 12 for the Cyclones. ISU's freshmen combined for 47 kills at the tournament.
"Our two freshmen were really great again tonight," said Knowles. "Even though they are young, and they will get better, they were really huge for us and were a big reason for our success."
The Mizuno/Auburn Challenge title marked the third consecutive season in which the Cyclones opened the season with a tournament championship. ISU captured successive titles at their own Cyclone Heritage Classic in 2002 and 2003. It was the first road tournament that Iowa State has won since 1997, when Iowa State won the Hofstra Invitational. It was also the first tournament title at ISU for associate head coach Amy Farber Knowles, who has handled the coaching duties for Linda Crum, absent from the team due to the birth of her second daughter on Aug. 22.
"Getting that first tournament out of the way and getting three wins was really gratifying for us," Knowles said. "We made some mistakes, and we still need to improve, but it was good to get that tournament under our belt and get some wins as well. We have a young team that will only get better."
Iowa State's next contest will be a road game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. ISU will travel to another tournament next weekend, as they will go to the USTA Invitational, hosted by the University of Texas-San Antonio on Sept. 10-11.
Players Mentioned
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