No. 5 Texas Prevails Over Iowa State, 3-0

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State was able to hang with No. 5 Texas at times, but could not finish sets as the Longhorns prevailed 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-21) at Hilton Coliseum Saturday night. The loss drops ISU to 16-8 on the season, 9-4 in Big 12 play. Texas maintains its lead atop the Big 12 at 22-2, 12-1.

Morgan Kuhrt led the Iowa State offense with 13 kills, while Caitlin Nolan recorded 24 digs.

Longhorn Offense Rises to Give Texas in First Set Win
The early portions of the first set saw an intriguing battle between the serving of Iowa State and the blocking of Texas. The Cyclones showed why they are the best serving team in the Big 12, with Monique Harris and Caitlin Nolan each recording early aces. The Longhorns continue to be one of the top blocking teams in the country, grabbing three early blocks.

UT eventually got some separation, going on a 4-0 run to pull ahead 12-8. While the Longhorn block was strong, the Cyclones helped UT out by committing unforced attack errors to help expand the UT lead to five points at 16-11. While the ISU offense was able to resurface and get its hitting percentage back in positive territory, they were never able to bring UT back within three points in the frame as the Longhorns hit .407 in the first frame. Paulina Prieto Cerame closed out the set on Texas' second set point with a kill off the ISU block to take the first 25-19.

Dominant Ogbogu Gives Texas Second Set
Iowa State was the first team to get ahead by multiple points, when a Harris setter dump made it 7-5 ISU. The lead did not last long, with the Longhorns moving back ahead at 9-8 on an Amy Neal kill. UT was able to open up a gap with a 3-0 run to move ahead 14-10. The Cyclones wasted no time getting back into the set, as ISU went on a 3-0 run of its own to bring the Texas advantage back down to 14-13.

The Longhorns were eventually able to pull away again thanks to the brilliant play of Chiaka Ogbogu in the middle. The First Team All-American showed her credentials, finishing the second set with five kills on seven swings. She also teamed with Amy Neal on a block of Alexis Conaway at 21-16 to help build Texas' largest lead of the set. Neal got her 10th kill of the match, getting it just through the ISU block to claim the second 25-18.

Late Run Grants Texas Match
ISU rolled out of the locker room to start the third set, taking the first four points of the frame. The fun did not last long for the Cyclones as UT went on a 5-0 run to move ahead. From there, the majority of the frame played out tightly, but with the Longhorns holding the edge for the most part. ISU was finally able to tie it up again at 16-16 when Nolan's serve got a generous roll off the net cord and landed in.

At 20-20, Prieto Cerame stepped up with another kill to put Texas back ahead at 21-20 and it was all Texas from there. A pair of ISU attack errors and a Texas block brought up match point at 24-20. A Tory Knuth-Jess Schaben block held off one match point, but Ogbogu finished the match with a kill to end the set at 25-21.

Cyclone Notes
*Morgan Kuhrt posted 13 kills, her ninth match of 2015 with at least 10 kills and 22nd of her career.
*Caitlin Nolan finished with 24 digs, her 12th match of 2015 with at least 20 digs and 27th of her career.
*Nolan recorded 10 digs in the second set, her 11th set of 2015 with at least 10 digs and the 21st of her career.

Up Next
Iowa State heads back on the road for a midweek match at Kansas State. First serve between the Cyclones and Wildcats in Manhattan will be at 7 p.m.

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Team Stats

Morgan Kuhrt

Ciara Capezio

Jess Schaben

Alexis Conaway

Players Mentioned

Alexis Conaway

Monique Harris

Tory Knuth

Morgan Kuhrt

Caitlin Nolan

Jess Schaben

Sponsors

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