Iowa State Opens Big 12 Play With Sweep of TTU

Saturday, September 26

Ames, Iowa

1:00 PM

Iowa State

8-4, 1-0

Texas Tech

12-4, 1-1

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Texas Tech	19	26	18	0
Iowa State	25	28	25	3

Iowa State Opens Big 12 Play With Sweep of TTU

09.26.2015 | Volleyball

Box Score Stats

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State volleyball team started out Big 12 play with a 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 25-18) sweep of Texas Tech Saturday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum. The win improved ISU to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play. Texas Tech is now 12-4 overall, 1-1 in conference competition.

Jess Schaben led the ISU offense with 12 kills, while Alexis Conawaay and Ciara Capezio each recorded 11 kills. Monique Harris posted a double-double with 36 assists and 14 digs, and Caitlin Nolan had 12 digs.

Middle Blockers Lead ISU to First Set Win
A pair of 5-0 runs by each side ensured that neither side would get out to a big advantage. A Carlie Foust service error put the Cyclones ahead 15-14 in the frame and for good in the rest of the set. The Red Raiders struggled to stop the Cyclone middle blockers, as Samara West recorded five first-set kills, and Alexis Conaway chipped in four.

It was a pair of Tech errors as part of a 3-0 Iowa State run that put the set out of sight for good at 20-16. The Cyclones built that lead up to six points at 24-18 on an attack error by Audrey Fragniere to bring up set point. TTU held it off for one point, but Jess Schaben sealed it on the next point with a tip shot over the block and into the vacant court to give ISU the first 25-19.

Big Iowa State Rally Gives Second to ISU
Iowa State was first on the board in the second set with a Schaben kill, and did not look back. The Iowa State offense got its outsides more involved, as Schaben had four kills in the first 13 points of the frame.

However, when Schaben rotated out of the Iowa State lineup, that saw Tech fight its way back into the set. The Red Raiders went on a 8-0 run with Meghan Stacy contributing three kills to put TTU ahead 17-13. Texas Tech expanded that lead to five points at 20-15 in a setter dump by Marguerite Grubb. ISU rallied, with a 3-0 via kills from Ciara Capezio and Conaway and a Capezio ace to reduce the Tech lead to 20-18. The Cyclones finally got the tie at 23-23 on a Capezio kill and reached set point on a Grubb error.

Tech survived the first set point, and brought up set points on consecutive occasions, but ISU survived both on kills by Capezio and Conaway. The Cyclones got a second swing at set point on a Conaway block of Jenna Allen. It was Conaway who sealed the set with another kill to take the frame 28-26.

Dominant Offense Seals Match in Third
The Cyclones took a few points to get rolling, but once Iowa State got ahead there was little doubt how the match would finish. Trailing 5-4, ISU went on a 5-0 run powered by Capezio on offense and some strong serving from Morgan Kuhrt to move the Cyclones ahead 9-4.

TTU would not go away easily, as the Red Raiders were able to lower the ISU lead to 14-13 on a Victoria Hinneburg kill. The Cyclone offense was too good in the third set, hitting .485 without committing any errors. The Cyclones continued to spread it out to Capezio, Conaway and Schaben, building up a lead of 24-15. The Red Raiders held off three ISU match points, but Conaway got it on the last one to close the set 25-18.

Cyclone Match Ball Goes to…
Alexis Conaway. The sophomore middle blocker was dominant on offense and defense in helping guide the Iowa State sweep. For the day, Conaway finished with 11 kills at a team-high .476 hitting percentage while also posting five total blocks (one solo, four assists).

Cyclone Notes
*Texas Tech out-dug Iowa State 55-to-49, the last time ISU was out-dug in a match it won in straight-sets was Aug. 24, 2012 against Cincinnati (50-to-49).
*Alexis Conaway recorded 11 kills, her second match this season in double figures and 11th of her career.
*Caitlin Nolan posted 12 digs, her 30th-straight match with at least 10 digs and the 60th of her career.
*Monique Harris posted 36 assists and 12 digs, her third-straight double-double, fourth of the season and seventh of her career.
*Ciara Capezio recorded 11 kills, her sixth match this season in double figures, and 35th of her career.
*Jess Schaben posted 12 kills, her ninth match of the season with double figures.

On Deck
Iowa State hits the road for its first Big 12 away match of the season Wednesday at Oklahoma. First serve will be at 6 p.m. with the match being televised nationally on ESPNU.