Malcom's Big Night Fuels Comeback Win

Tuesday, September 2

Omaha, Neb.

7:00 PM

Iowa State

Creighton

Malcom's Big Night Fuels Comeback Win

09.02.2008 | Volleyball

By: cyclones.com

OMAHA, Neb. ? Jen Malcom had 15 kills and no errors on 19 swings for a school-record .789 hitting percentage as Iowa State rallied after losing the first game to defeat Creighton, 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-16), Tuesday night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The win marked the 600th in the history of the program, which began in 1973.

Malcom also had a solo block and five block assists to go along with her record-setting performance.

“Jen was outstanding for us tonight,” ISU head coach Christy Johnson said. “She is so quick that she is difficult for people to defend.”

Victoria Henson led the Cyclones (3-1) with 16 kills while Ashley Mass reached double-digits for the 30th straight match with 17 digs. Kaylee Manns had her fourth double-double in as many matches with 42 assists and 14 digs. Manns also surpassed 3,000 career assists in the match, becoming the second player in school history to accomplish the feat.

Freshman Rachel Hockaday had nine kills and nine digs in the win.

Creighton (1-3) took a 25-22 win in the first set behind a more efficient attack and a seven to zero blocking edge. The Bluejays hit .333 while limiting Iowa State to a .105 hitting percentage. The Cyclones led 14-13 but the Bluejays went on a 7-1 run to go in front 20-15. ISU cut the lead to 20-19 on a kill from Hockaday but that was all the closer the Cyclones would get.

The Cyclones bounced back to win the next three sets, finishing the night with a .234 hitting percentage after the sluggish start.

“I'm pleased with how we bounced back after a slow start,” Johnson said. “It was a pretty good team performance for us and should help going into this weekend.”

Iowa State used a 7-0 run to close the second set and tie the match up after trailing 21-18. During the run, ISU got its first block, a double block from Hockaday and Henson, to pull to within one. Hockaday blasted a kill to tie it up and force CU to use its second timeout. Following the break, Hockaday gave ISU the lead with her sixth kill of the match. A Mass ace and a pair of kills from Malcom evened the match at 1-1 heading into the intermission.

Iowa State went on top 2-1 in the match after cruising to a 25-15 win in the third set. Malcom and Henson combined for 10 kills with no errors on 15 swings as the Cyclones hit .375 as a team.

As a team, ISU out dug the Bluejays 56-38 and trailed in blocking just 12-8 at the end of the match after being out blocked seven to zero in the first set.

Jessica Houts led the Bluejays with 16 kills.

Iowa State travels to the Middle Tennessee Invitational this weekend, opening the tournament with a match against the host Blue Raiders Friday at 7:30 p.m.