Kansas Tops Cyclones, 3-2

Wednesday, September 26

Lawrence, Kan.

6:30 PM

Iowa State

Kansas

09.26.2012 | Volleyball

By: cyclones.com

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 19 Iowa State (7-5, 1-1 Big 12) rallied from two sets down but couldn't edge past Kansas (14-2, 2-0 Big 12) on Wednesday, falling in five sets (19-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 9-15).

The match was the first in which Iowa State forced a fifth set after trailing 0-2 in a match since the Cyclones defeated No. 7 Oregon in the NCAA Regional Semifinal in 2008.

The Jayhawks powered to a 9-1 lead in the fifth and although Iowa State pulled as close as 9-13, the Cyclones never got comfortable on offense, committing five errors with only five kills. The Cyclones put up four blocks in the short set but Kansas grabbed two blocks of its own, along with a service ace and seven kills to put away the win.

Neither team had more than one set each of quality offense in the match. Kansas hit .201 on the night, besting Iowa State's .149 and the Cyclones suffered from 10 service errors.

Sophomore Tory Knuth, who entered the match in the third set, had a solid night, tying a career-high with eight kills and a personal-best with five block assists to go along with a solo block in her fifth match of the season.

Outside hitter Victoria Hurtt put up an Iowa State-best 17 kills against Kansas and Rachel Hockaday and Mackenzie Bigbee each added 10 kills. With 17 digs, Hockaday recorded her sixth double-double of the season.

Cyclone libero Kristen Hahn lit up the court with 33 digs, her highest total of the season and her third-straight match with at least 25 digs. In two seasons as the Cyclones' starting libero, Hahn has tallied three 30-plus dig matches.

Iowa State struggled early in the first set, as the Jayhawks put the Cyclones off their game and only allowed the visitors one early lead. Three Jayhawks had four kills in the set, leading Kansas to .302 hitting. Tenisha Matlock paced Iowa State with four kills of her own.

Kansas took the 2-0 match lead in a poor offensive set for both teams. Although the Jayhawks only managed a .184 mark in the game, Iowa State had no more than two kills from any one player and posted a -,056 average.

Hurtt rallied the Cyclones in set three, smashing seven kills and hitting .500 (7-1-12) as the Cyclones got on the board. Although the team totaled six errors in the set, their 19 kills and five Jayhawk errors helped push the match to a fourth set.

Another poor offensive set by both teams gave Iowa State the opening it needed to draw even. Hurtt put up five kills to lead all scorers and Iowa State hit .171, ahead of Kansas' .120, to send the match into a deciding set.

The Cyclones return home Saturday, hosting TCU for the first time in program history. First serve at Hilton Coliseum is scheduled for noon CDT.