Dominant Defense Leads No. 22 ISU Past TCU

AMES, Iowa – No. 22 Iowa State produced a smothering defensive effort en route to sweeping TCU 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-16) Saturday afternoon in front of a season-best crowd of 3,532 at Hilton Coliseum. The win improved ISU to 14-4 overall on the season, and 5-3 in the Big 12 as the league reaches the halfway point. TCU is now 9-11 on the year, 1-7 in conference play.

The Cyclones held TCU to a negative hitting percentage in each set, as the Frogs finished the match with a -.043 hitting clip. It was the first time the Cyclones have held an opposition to a negative hitting percentage since holding West Virginia to a -.033 clip in Morgantown in 2013.

Grace Lazard led the Cyclone block with eight blocks (one solo, seven assists), while Alexis Conaway had five (three solos, two assists). In the attack, Conaway and Samara West each had nine kills, with West getting hers at a .692 hitting clip.

First Set: Iowa State 25 TCU 14
Iowa State went on a 7-0 run to speed ahead 11-3, with ISU converting six of its first nine shots for kills. The Frogs went on a 5-1 run to get back into contention for the set, but the Cyclones dominated across the net. Along with hitting .522 for the set, the ISU block and back row restricted TCU to a -.036 hitting clip. Iowa State wrapped up the first set when Ashleigh Martin was stuffed by Monique Harris and Grace Lazard for ISU's fourth block of the set at 25-14.

Second Set: Iowa State 25 TCU 17
The Cyclones block continued to dominate, as Iowa State recorded 5.5 blocks en route to taking an 11-1 lead. The large advantage allowed ISU to get some other players some time, moving to the 6-2 offense and getting Meegan Hart some time at middle blocker. Despite all the changes, the Cyclone defense still held TCU to a -.032 hitting percentage on the set. ISU wrapped up the second with an Alexis Conaway kill at 25-17.

Third Set: Iowa State 25 TCU 16
TCU had an early share of the lead for the first time all day, but the Cyclones went on a 7-0 run to pull ahead to a 10-5 lead that was not relinquished. The ISU serve had its best set of the season, as the Cyclones fired four aces in the frame, three via Hali Hillegas. ISU wrapped up the match with another block, as Samara West and Lazard teamed to deny Martin and send the Cyclones home victorious.

Player of the Game
Grace Lazard. The Iowa State block was dominant again, and the junior from London was the headliner for a second-straight match. Lazard finished the match with eight blocks (one solo, seven assists), and also contributed six kills and two aces to the Cyclone attack.

Up Next
Iowa State returns to action on Wednesday at Kansas State. First serve between the Cyclones and Wildcats from Ahearn Field House will be at 8 p.m. with ESPNU televising the match.

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Team Stats

Alexis Conaway

Samara West

Jess Schaben

Grace Lazard

Players Mentioned

Alexis Conaway

Monique Harris

Meegan Hart

Hali Hillegas

Grace Lazard

Samara West

Players Mentioned

Alexis Conaway

Monique Harris

Meegan Hart

Hali Hillegas

Grace Lazard

Samara West

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics