No. 12 Iowa State falls to No. 13 Minnesota, 3-1

Saturday, September 5

Minneapolis, Minn.

8:00 PM

Iowa State

Minnesota (Diet Coke Classic)

No. 12 Iowa State falls to No. 13 Minnesota, 3-1

09.05.2009 | Volleyball

By: cyclones.com

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. ? No. 13 Minnesota used big rallies in the first two sets and held on to defeat 12th-ranked Iowa State, 3-1 (27-25, 27-25, 26-28, 25-13), Saturday night in the championship match of the Diet Coke Classic.

Iowa State (5-1) was led by Victoria Henson, who blasted a match-high 21 kills and a posted a career-high 20 digs. Rachel Hockaday finished with 13 kills and 12 digs and joined Henson on the all-tournament team. Debbie Stadick was the only other Cyclone in double-figures with 11 kills.

Defensively, Ashley Mass had a season-high and match-high 25 digs. Caitlin Mahoney also posted a career high with 18 digs while Kaylee Manns finished with a double-double, notching 56 assists and 11 digs.

The Gophers (6-1) were led by freshman Tabitha Love and junior Brook Dieter, who finished with 18 and 17 kills, respectively. Hailey Cowles had 21 digs to lead five Gophers in double-digits.

Minnesota held a 15 to six edge in blocks, making up the only statistical category with a noticeable difference. ISU had more kills (62-60) and the teams were even in digs (90-90). ISU also held a six to three advantage in aces, led by two from Mahoney.

In the first set, ISU took an early 9-4 lead following a block from Hockaday and Jamie Straube. The Cyclones extended that lead to 15-9 on a Henson kill before Minnesota started to slowly erase the deficit, cutting it to 18-15. ISU went on a small run again, forcing a Minnesota timeout at 21-16 on a kill from Stadick, but the Gophers stayed close and eventually tied it at 24-24. The Cyclones had a set point at 25-24 but Minnesota rallied to score the next three points and take the set 27-25.

The second set was much of the same as Iowa State again failed to capitalize on a big lead. The Cyclones led 21-14 after Kelsey Petersen and Straube stuffed back a Love attack. Minnesota went on an 11-3 run to get set point at 25-24 before Henson blasted her 10th kill of the match to knot it up. The Gophers scored the next two points to win 27-25 and go into the break up 2-0.

Iowa State saw another lead evaporate in the third set, but time it was able to recover and take the set 28-26. ISU led 16-10 following an ace from Manns before Minnesota rallied to tie it at 18-18. The Cyclones then led 23-22 following a kill from Manns, but the teams teetered back-and-forth until ISU scored three straight to take the set 28-26.

The fourth set was tied at 5-5 before Minnesota rattled off five consecutive to break it open. The Cyclones did close it to four points at 16-12 following a Petersen kill but the Gophers scored nine of the next 10 points to claim the win, 25-13.

Iowa State will be back in action Friday against intrastate rival Iowa at the Hawkeye Challenge. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.