Cyclones Hit Over .300 to Top Bears

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Iowa State (7-5) took the win over Missouri State (3-9) by a score of 3-1 (25-16, 17-25, 25-16, 25-11) while setting a season-best .365 hitting percentage. The efficiency marks the first time since Nov. 6, 2021 against Oklahoma the Cyclones ended with a hitting percentage over .300.

Solei Thomas set a personal season-high 14 kills to lead the team, hitting .393. Thomas also contributed three blocks in the victory.

Eleanor Holthaus totaled three blocks in the match to now hold 307 on her career as she made the move to hold sole possession of the 14^th-most in program history, passing Jen Malcom. Holthaus also hit nine kills to now stand 60 apart from the fifth-most in school history with 1,274 on her career.

Maya Duckworth joined Thomas with over 10 kills as she handed in 12. The freshman hit at .476 to set a new career high.

Abby Greiman hit nine kills on just 12 swings for an efficiency of .667, both new career highs.

SET ONE

The match began with two Iowa State blocks, forcing a Missouri State timeout as ISU led 5-2. Cyclone hitters totaled eight kills by five players on just 13 attempts at .538 to cause another Bear timeout. Holthaus served to two aces, making for the second-consecutive day delivering two in one frame. Iowa State continued to roll as six Cyclones hit to 17 kills at a season set best hitting percentage of .552 to take the first 25-16. Four hit over .500, led by Thomas with .571, hitting five kills on only seven attempts.

SET TWO

Missouri State took the advantage early in the set with four kills on only six swings. Iowa State inched toward the Bears' lead, despite being held to a hitting efficiency under .100. Morgan Brandt sent over an ace to bring ISU within one at 10-9 for the third total ace by the Cyclones. Mariah Mitchell hit her fourth kill to again come within one at 17-16 while Missouri State pressed on, hitting over .300 to make it to 20 points first. Missouri State totaled 15 kills in the set to take the second 25-17.

SET THREE

Greiman tallied ISU's first point of the frame with her fourth kill at .800 hitting. Two additional Thomas swings totaled 11 on the match for the senior. Duckworth then hit three-consecutive kills to send the Cyclones on a run of four to lead 9-4. Allie Petry then stepped to the service line for two consecutive aces to stretch Iowa State's lead at 14-6. Duckworth joined Thomas in double digits with her kill to make the score 22-14. Greiman tallied her seventh kill on nine attempts to seal the third and bring the lead back to ISU.

SET FOUR

Iowa State took the early lead as Brooke Stonestreet sent over two straight aces, the sixth and seventh by the Cyclones. Another scoring run including three Alexis Engelbrecht kills continued to build ISU's advantage. At 9-5, Holthaus tallied her 306^th career block to officially make the move up the all-time program list of most career blocks. Holthaus then put up another to total three on the match. Iowa State added another 17 kills in the frame with a set hitting percentage of .424. The Cyclones held the Bears to 11 points, now the third time this season ISU has held an opponent to 15 points or less.

NEXT UP

Iowa State is back tonight against Saint Louis at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Next Event

Team Stats

Solei Thomas

Maya Duckworth

Eleanor Holthaus

Abby Greiman

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Alexis Engelbrecht

Abby Greiman

Eleanor Holthaus

Mariah Mitchell

Allie Petry

Brooke Stonestreet

Solei Thomas

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Alexis Engelbrecht

Abby Greiman

Eleanor Holthaus

Mariah Mitchell

Allie Petry

Brooke Stonestreet

Solei Thomas

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics