Undefeated Cyclones Make History

Saturday, September 10

Fargo, N.D.

1:00 PM

Iowa State

North Dakota State

09.10.2011 | Volleyball

By: cyclones.com

STATS

FARGO, N.D. - The No. 17 Cyclones improved to 9-0 on the season with a five-set win (26-28, 26-24, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12) over North Dakota State (6-5) on Saturday, becoming the only team in Iowa State history to start its season 9-0, surpassing the 1997 Cyclones' 8-0 start.

The win also marked the first time since 2009 that Iowa State has won multiple five-set matches in a season. The Cyclones won three five-set matches in 2009.

It was a day for records as Jamie Straube broke her record for kills in a match with 19 while hitting .325. Straube added a solo block and three block assists on the day. Kristen Hahn recorded her second match of over 30 digs on the season, collecting a career-high 35 digs in the match.

Outside hitter Carly Jenson had 17 kills and 20 digs for her fourth double-double and setter Alison Landwehr scored her second double-double in three matches with 53 assists and 12 digs.

Also coming up big for the Cyclones was Hannah Willms, who finished with seven kills, five digs and her first-ever solo block. Willms' block gave the Cyclones their first lead in the fourth set and two of her kills came on set point in game four and on match point.

It was a fierce fight in the first set as the Cyclones saved four set points before NDSU was able to take the 1-0 lead on a Victoria Hurtt attack error. Hurtt came up big for Iowa State late in the game, tying the score at 24 and again at 26 before her error. Iowa State hit only .196 in the first set as the Bison collected three total blocks (two solo blocks, two assists) and hit .250.

It was the Cyclones who outlasted the Bison in set two. The two teams vied for the lead throughout the set and tied at 25 before a kill by Jenson was followed by an attack error by NDSU's Brynn Joki to give the Cyclones the win and the 1-1 tie in the match.

As the teams headed to the locker rooms, Straube and Hurtt led the Cyclones with eight kills and one solo block apiece. Jenson was just behind the duo with seven kills.

North Dakota State came out strong in set three, leading the whole way to a 25-18 win for the 2-1 lead while hitting .239 and holding the Cyclones to .091 hitting. Neither team's offense lit up during the match, Iowa State hitting .190 on the day and NDSU finishing at the .164 mark.

The Bison jumped out to a 6-1 lead in set four, helped by four Cyclone errors before Willms, coming off the bench, collected her block to put Iowa State up 11-10. The visitors never looked back, securing the set win on a Willms kill to tie the match at two sets apiece.

In the fifth, the teams stayed with each other until a block assist by Kelsey Petersen and Straube put the Cyclones up 9-7. NDSU tied the set at 12 but a kill by Tenisha Matlock and an attack error by Lauren Commack gave the Cyclones match point and Willms put away the victory with a kill.

Joki led the Bison in the match with 16 kills and 18 digs. Chrissy Knuth also had a double-double for the home team with 15 kills and 17 digs.

Iowa State will try to keep its undefeated streak intact on Tuesday when the Cyclones head to Northern Iowa to face the No. 14 Panthers at 7 p.m. CDT.