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2015 Iowa State Volleyball Season in Review
12.22.2015 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State volleyball team wrapped up the 2015 season this month, appearning in its 10th-consecutive NCAA Volleyball Championship, advancing to the second round. ISU finished the season with a 19-11 overall record, and 11-5 in the Big 12 en route to finishing third in the Big 12.
Cyclone Nation witnessed some record-breaking seasons from Caitlin Nolan, Alexis Conaway and Jess Schaben, along with some historic wins for the Cyclone volleyball program.
The best moments of 2015 are categorized and highlighted below.
Matches of the Year
A few matches spring to mind when thinking of the best of the 2015 season. One of them came on Nov. 7 at TCU. The Cyclones were coming off a bye, but would be taking the court for the first time since Branen Berta's wrist injury that would sideline her all of November. TCU's University Rec Center is one of the most challenging places to play in the Big 12, as they proved 10 days earlier with one of the biggest upsets of the NCAA season, sweeping then-No. 2 Texas. To an outsider, the Cyclones looked ripe to fall to the surging Horned Frogs.
Iowa State dominated.
The Cyclone offense hit .343 as ISU swept TCU. Morgan Kuhrt and Samara West each recorded 12 kills at a .500 hitting percentage to lead ISU to the dominant victory. While the Cyclone offense was big, it was the relentless play of the ISU defense that helped seal the win.
Good morning! Need something to energize you on this Sunday morning? Watch the hustle and effort by ISU on defense yesterday against TCU. Just keep the ball alive, and good things will happen.Go Cyclones!
Posted by Iowa State Volleyball on Sunday, November 8, 2015
The second came in the NCAA Volleyball Championship against Miami (FL) in the first round. Making the tournament 10-straight seasons is an impressive accomplishment in itself, but ISU also shows in the streak that they come to play, advancing to the second round on eight of those occasions. The latest came against the Hurricanes, who could not keep up with the outstanding Cyclones, as ISU swept into the second round.
Game, Set, Match! Iowa State advances to the Second Round by sweeping Miami 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-20)! #Cyclones
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) December 4, 2015
Death, Taxes, Iowa State Liberos
Iowa State having outstanding liberos is no new trend, what was in vogue in 2008 still was in 2015 thanks to the brilliant play of Caitlin Nolan.
Nolan ranked atop the Big 12 and fifth in the NCAA with her Iowa State and Big 12-record 5.78 digs per set. The nation's coaches recognized her as the top libero in the country, as she earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors, making her a two-time All-American after her Third Team honor in 2014.
All American @caitlinnolann , so proud, congrats!! #LiberoU pic.twitter.com/Y7ow4wvahr
— Christy Johnson (@CJohnsonLynch) December 18, 2015
To the surprise of no one, Nolan was named the Big 12 Libero of the Year, a unanimous selection by the league's coaches. The Big 12 Libero of the Year has been awarded 15 times: Iowa State has won it eight times, the rest of the Big 12 combined seven.
#Big12VB: @CycloneVB's Caitlin Nolan repeats as Libero of the Year. pic.twitter.com/sIWJVpZXnc
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 30, 2015
Jess Schaben's Incredible Debut Season
If anyone is asked why should you look forward to the 2016 Iowa State volleyball season, a couple of the first words you should say is "Jess Schaben". The Defiance, Iowa native was a dynamo the entire season, and was recognized for such, earning AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.
Her numbers were incredible, she recorded 345 kills at 3.29 per set to lead the Cyclones, and her .265 hitting percentage was the best by an ISU outside hitter since Victoria Henson. The best part of all this: we get to see Schaben tear it up for three more seasons.
Record-Breaking Middle Blockers
Samara West and Alexis Conaway were great for Iowa State as freshmen, but the duo took another step in their sophomore seasons, especially on the offensive end. The duo are now Iowa State's single-season hitting percentage leaders, with West's .352 being a new school record and Conaway's .351 right behind her.
Samara (.352) and Alexis (.351) finish 2015 with the highest single-season hitting percentages in ISU history! pic.twitter.com/l4KfxoEjQo
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) December 5, 2015
Conaway also got some love from the Big 12's coaches, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2015.
Don't Forget Morgan Kuhrt!
She doesn't smash the ball like Jess Schaben, and she is not a defensive dynamo like the Iowa State liberos and defensive specialists, but Morgan Kuhrt's all-around game has seen her rise up among the best in the Big 12. The redshirt junior made a challenging mid-season move to the right side, but she handled it oustandingly. In Big 12 play, Kuhrt led ISU with 3.15 kills per set and earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for her efforts.
Congrats to Alexis Conaway, Morgan Kuhrt and Cailtin Nolan for all making the All-Big 12 First Team! #Cyclones https://t.co/141hu9KLio
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 30, 2015
New Year, New President
While midnight of Jan. 1, 2016 will mark a new year for everyone around the world, Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch will add a new job title.
Along with being Iowa State's head volleyball coach, Johnson-Lynch will take over as President of the Board of Directors for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Johnson-Lynch was on the board this year as an under study to current AVCA President Kevin Hambly of Illinois. She will serve as President for two years and then serve on the Board of Directors as Past President in 2018.
Thank You, and See You in 2016!
In conclusion, Iowa State volleyball wants to thank its fans for their incredible support in 2015, as the Cyclones finished 11th in the NCAA in attendance at 2,624 fans per match. The Cyclone program would not be where it is at today without the support it has behind it.
Thankful to have the best fans in the country! Happy Thanksgiving #CyclONEnation! #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/JoFzlWtpZn
— Cyclone Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 26, 2015
Be sure to stay tuned to cyclones.com, and Iowa State Volleyball's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates on spring volleyball and the 2016 season.
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