Cyclones Push Past Ball State, 3-1

CORALVILLE, Iowa – An outstanding performance from Eleanor Holthaus helped lead Iowa State (5-1) to a 3-1 (26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 25-13) win over Ball State (7-1) Friday afternoon at Xtream Arena. The victory was ISU's first match of a doubleheader day, as the Cyclones return to action later this afternoon against Syracuse at 4 p.m.

Holthaus showed why she is a two-time All-Big 12 and two-time AVCA All-Midwest Region Team performer, leading the Cyclones with 19 kills at .359 hitting, five blocks (one solo, four assists), two digs and an ace. Joining her in double figures was Annie Hatch (14 kills) and Candelaria Herrera (12 kills at .478 hitting). Jaden Newsome had a double-double of 48 assists and 11 digs along with firing a career-high four aces. Marija Popovic just missed out on a double-double with 22 digs and nine assists.

Set One: Iowa State 26 Ball State 24
As the Cyclones worked out its passing early, they looked to Annie Hatch for offense, and the junior delivered with four early kills to help push ISU ahead 7-5. Ball State briefly moved ahead, but the Cyclones responded with Avery Rhodes contributing three kills and two blocks as part of a 7-1 run that pushed ISU ahead 20-13. BSU made a rally, but the Cyclones still reached set point first at 24-21 on a Kenzie Mantz kill. The Cardinals held off the three to tie it at 24-24, but Mantz killed again to give the Cyclones another chance which this time when Rhodes killed at 26-24.

Set Two: Ball State 25 Iowa State 18
Though Ball State did not take the first, they carried the closing momentum into the second as the Cardinals moved out to a 6-2 advantage. Down 15-8, ISU decided to move to a 6-2 with Addi Heidemann at setter and Mariah Mitchell as the second right side. The move produced some results initially, with Heidemann finding Candelaria Herrera a couple of times to help cut the BSU lead to three at 16-13. However, the deficit was too much to overcome as the Cardinals hit .500 as a team on the set, evening the match when Megan Wielonski set over for a kill at 25-18.

Set Three: Iowa State 25 Ball State 19
With Iowa State back in its regular 5-1 offense, the Cyclone attack started to roll again. The reactivation was led by Eleanor Holthaus, as the All-Big 12 right side killed on five of the Cyclones' first nine points of the set to help push ISU ahead 10-6. Ball State pulled within two on may occasions, but it was all Holthaus, as the senior finished the frame with 10 kills, leading an ISU attack that hit .371 on the frame. Freshman Allie Petry fired her first career ace to wrap up the third 25-19.

Set Four: Iowa State 25 Ball State 13
Back-to-back aces from Marie Plitt put the Cardinals ahead 4-1 in the frame. Holthaus continued her roll of dominating the match, notching a solo block and an ace to help put ISU ahead 7-6. BSU tied it at 7-7, but ISU went on a 5-0 run powered by a pair of Herrera kills to push ahead for good in the set and the match. The Cyclone defense took a big step up in the frame, holding the Cardinals to .077 hitting on the set. Newsome served up a 7-0 run that included three aces to make it 21-10 ISU and put the match out of question. Abby Greiman closed the match with a kill at 25-13.

Player of the Match
Eleanor Holthaus. Iowa State's right side was everywhere, firing a season-best 19 kills that included 10 in the third set. She also had five blocks (one solo, four assists), two digs and an ace in the win.

Up Next
Iowa State takes on Syracuse at Xtreme Arena later this afternoon at 4 p.m.

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Team Stats

Eleanor Holthaus

Annie Hatch

Candelaria Herrera

Kenzie Mantz

Players Mentioned

Abby Greiman

Annie Hatch

Addi Heidemann

Candelaria Herrera

Eleanor Holthaus

Kenzie Mantz

Mariah Mitchell

Jaden Newsome

Allie Petry

Marija Popovic

Avery Rhodes

Players Mentioned

Abby Greiman

Annie Hatch

Addi Heidemann

Candelaria Herrera

Eleanor Holthaus

Kenzie Mantz

Mariah Mitchell

Jaden Newsome

Allie Petry

Marija Popovic

Avery Rhodes

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