Shorthanded ISU Falls to West Virginia

AMES, Iowa – A shorthanded Iowa State (13-8, 5-5 Big 12) was unable to get enough out of its attack as West Virginia (14-7, 4-6 Big 12) prevailed 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21) Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones were without All-Big 12 right side Eleanor Holthaus and libero Marija Popovic due to Big 12 health and safety protocols.

In their absence two Cyclones stepped up to help the ISU effort on Sunday. Allie Petry's return to the libero spot saw the freshman notch a career-high 17 digs, while Mariah Mitchell, who only had one kill on the season coming into Sunday, stepped up with 12 kills at .258 hitting and two blocks.

The ISU attack was led by 13 kills from Annie Hatch. Candelaria Herrera had eight kills and eight blocks, while Jaden Newsome had a double-double of 38 assists and 11 digs. Brooke Andersen was also in double figures with 14 digs.

Set One: West Virginia 25 Iowa State 18
WVU's jump-stop server Skye Stokes put ISU in big trouble early, firing off an 8-0 run that included three aces to put the visitors ahead 9-1. The pain continued with another 4-0 WVU run making it 13-3 before ISU was able to settle down. A 7-2 run brought the set within five at 18-13 on an Annie Hatch ace, but ISU never got closer. ISU hit -.037 for the set and conceded four aces in the first frame. Kristin Lux's kill gave it to the Mountaineers, 25-18.

Set Two: Iowa State 25 West Virginia 21
A quick 3-0 run to open the second set and an immediate side-out of Stokes calmed the Cyclone nerves and gave ISU a lead to work with. Iowa State strung together 3-0 runs to help build a lead, with Alexis Engelbrecht and Mariah Mitchell combining for a block at 12-6. WVU rallied within three at 18-15, but The Cyclone block stepped up again, with Herrera involved in a pair of blocks to make it 21-15 ISU and put the set out of question. Iowa State had five blocks in the set and hit .366 as a team in the frame. Briana Lynch fired wide to give ISU the second 25-21.

Set Three: West Virginia 25 Iowa State 18
Two 4-0 runs by the Mountaineers allowed the visitors to build up an 11-4 advantage that they were able to ride throughout the set. Iowa State tried a variety of tactics and lineups to try and get back into the set, but Stokes fired her fourth ace of the match to make it 15-8 and keep ISU out of the equation in the set. ISU's attack struggled to find its rhythm, as the Cyclones fired 11 attack errors while WVU only had two blocks in the set. Brooke Andersen was blocked by Lynch and Adrian Ell at 25-18 to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Set Four: West Virgina 25 Iowa State 21
West Virginia build an initial big lead, as consecutive kills from Lux put the Mountaineers ahead 9-4, but Iowa State was able to battle back, tying the set at 15-15 when Lux fired long and moving ahead for the first time in the set at 18-17 when Engelbrecht denied Emmy Ogogor. The Cyclone attack was this time denied by the Mountaineer block as WVU stuffed eight ISU shots in the set. West Virginia rattled off the final five points of the match, with Engelbrecht being called in the net on match point to close it out.

Up Next
Iowa State goes back on the road next week for two against Oklahoma. The matches in Norman will be Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. inside McCasland Field House.

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Team Stats

Annie Hatch

Mariah Mitchell

Candelaria Herrera

Brooke Andersen

Players Mentioned

Brooke Andersen

Alexis Engelbrecht

Annie Hatch

Candelaria Herrera

Eleanor Holthaus

Mariah Mitchell

Jaden Newsome

Allie Petry

Marija Popovic

Players Mentioned

Brooke Andersen

Alexis Engelbrecht

Annie Hatch

Candelaria Herrera

Eleanor Holthaus

Mariah Mitchell

Jaden Newsome

Allie Petry

Marija Popovic

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics