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2013 Iowa State Volleyball Season in Review
01.28.2014 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State volleyball team appeared in its eighth-consecutive NCAA Volleyball Championship in 2013 en route to an 18-10 record, 11-5 in Big 12 competition.
The Cyclones had many standout individuals, as both Kristen Hahn and Mackenzie Bigbee were AVCA All-Americans and five Cyclones earned postseason honors from the Big 12.
The best moments of the 2013 season are categorized and highlighted below.
Best Win
After a tough loss at No. 3 Texas four days earlier, the Cyclones faced a tough turnaround with a trip to No. 22 Kansas. In front of a sold-out Horejsi Center, Iowa State fought out a tough five-set victory. Tenisha Matlock led the Iowa State offense with 18 kills at a .417 hitting percentage and Kristen Hahn recorded 35 digs. The win meant that Iowa State had taken down a ranked team in each of head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch's nine seasons at Iowa State.
To re-live the win, click here.
Kristen Hahn's Records
Iowa State libero Kristen Hahn wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in Cyclone volleyball history. At a school where the libero position is highly valued and prestigous, Hahn made her own legacy. On her way, she matched and took down many Iowa State records, that were only a few years ago thought to be untouchable.
- Three-time AVCA All-American. Hahn's Second Team honor marked the second consecutive year she has made the second team. She became the fifth player in school history to make an All-American team at least twice. Adding in her Honorable Mention from 2011, Hahn joins Victoria Hensen (2006-10) and Ashley Mass (2007-10) as the only players to earn three AVCA All-American honors in program history.
- Three-time Big 12 Libero of the Year. Hahn tied Mass' conference record for most honors as the league's top libero. Between the two, Iowa State has secured the last six Big 12 Libero of the Year awards.
- Two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection. Hahn joins Mass as the only liberos in Big 12 history to make the First Team twice. However, Hahn was able to become the first libero to be a unanimous First Team selection twice.
- 17-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Hahn broke Mass' record for most conference player of the week honors for a Big 12 volleyball player of 15 en route to earning the Big 12 DPOW award five times in 2013. In 2012, Hahn set the conference record by being named Defensive Player of the Week eight times.
- 68 consecutive matches with at least 10 digs. Hahn took down Ashley Mass' record off 44 in a row back in September against San Diego. Hahn had at least 10 digs in every match of her junior and senior season.
- 49 career 20-dig matches. In Iowa State's sweep of Oklahoma on Nov. 9, Hahn had her 45th career match with at least 20 digs, taking down Mass' school record of 44. Hahn's three seasons as starting libero marked the three-most 20-dig matches by a Cyclone in a single season. She had 18 20-dig matches in 2012, 16 in 2013 and 14 in 2011.
- Eight career 30-dig matches. In Iowa State's five-set win at No. 22 Kansas, Hahn finished with 35 digs, her eighth career 30-dig match and passing Ashley Mass' record of seven 30-dig matches. Hahn had a career-high 39 digs in ISU's five-set loss at Oklahoma on Oct. 5. She also had 34 digs at UNI back in September.
- 5.71 digs per set. Another Mass record down as Hahn's 5.71 dps, which ranked third in the NCAA, was better than Mass' 5.49 digs per set in 2009.
- Career 5.17 digs per set. Breaks Ashley Mass' career mark of 4.92 digs per set.
Johnson-Lynch's Continued Progress
A decade ago, an 18-10 season with a trip to the NCAA Championship would have been among the best seasons in Iowa State volleyball history. However, as Johnson-Lynch closed out her ninth season, this season comes in lower among the most memorable seasons.
The raised expectations are due to the work of Johnson-Lynch. When she came to Ames in 2005, Iowa State's all-time record was 58 matches under .500 at a .474 winning percentage. Today, ISU is 42 matches above .500 with an all-time .515 winning percentage.
In conference competition, Iowa State ahd 95 wins between Big Eight and Big 12 competition all-time prior to Johnson-Lynch coming to ISU. This season, ISU raised its all-time conference winning percentage above .400. Johnson-Lynch has 110 career Big 12 victories.
A Thanks to the Fans
Hilton Coliseum continues to become a college volleyball destination, and Iowa State fans came out in some of its biggest numbers ever in 2013. The Cyclones finished 12th nationally in attendance, averaging 2,700 fans per match. The average match attendance just missed out on ISU's record of 2,734 set in 2009.
Iowa State also set its season tickets record in 2013, selling 1,300 season tickets. It was only six seasons earlier that ISU had sold 37 season tickets in 2007 when Iowa State started offering season tickets.
The Cyclones had three home matches with over 3,000 fans. ISU's sweep of TCU on Oct. 26 drew 3,398 fans. Iowa State's day before Thanksgiving showdown with No. 1 Texas got 3,490 fans. The peak came at home against Oklahoma, when the Cyclones welcomted the ninth-largest crowd in school history with 3,707 spectators.
An award for the Iowa State fans' loyalty has been postseason volleyball. Hilton Coliseum will host a 2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal and Final and Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines will do the same in 2015. To read about the role Cyclone fans have played in bringing NCAA Volleyball to Iowa, click here.
Player Honors
Kristen Hahn (Senior)
- 2013 AVCA Second Team All-American (second time)
- 2013 AVCA All-Midwest Region
- 2013 All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous)
- 2013 Big 12 Libero of the Year (third time)
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 First Team (third time)
- Five-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Big 12 record 17 in career)
Assistant coach @JonNewman14 presenting the Big 12 Libero of the Year award to @khahnisu. #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/PlVNHIwdAq
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) January 27, 2014
Tenisha Matlock (Senior)
- 2013 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Thanks to Tenisha Matlock for her contributions on and off the court during her career. #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/O5B0RdUtkn
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) December 8, 2013
- 2013 All-Big 12 First Team
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
- 2013 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
- 2013 AVCA All-Midwest Region
- 2013 All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous)
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Mackenzie Bigbee became the 10th All-American in Iowa State volleyball history. #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/pE4zNMZ9NT
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) December 19, 2013
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Morgan Kuhrt (Redshirt Freshman)
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Natalie Vondrak (Redshirt Freshman)
- 2013 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
- 2013 Big 12 All-Freshman Team (unanimous)
- Big 12 Rookie of the Week (once)
Players Mentioned
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