Gonzalez Leads ISU to Victory Over No. 14 Kansas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (17-7, 8-5 Big 12) took the five-set victory over No. 14 Kansas (18-5, 9-4 Big 12) by set scores of 25-22, 24-26, 23-25, 25-23, 15-3. The Cyclones remain undefeated in five setters at 5-0. Nayeli Gonzalez had an elite night, becoming the first Cyclone since 2008 to have a 30-plus kill match while Christy Johnson-Lynch sealed her 200^th career Big 12 victory. The Cyclones brought in the second ranked win of 2023 and the 43rd under Johnson-Lynch.

Iowa State came back from being down five to take the first set, but tallied 13 attack errors in the second set as KU tied it up. The Cyclones hit at .310 in the third, but KU was able to take the set before ISU stormed back in the fourth to force a fifth. Iowa State hit at .556 in the fifth while holding Kansas to -.250 hitting to take down the No. 14-ranked team. Iowa State totaled 78 kills, making for the first match since Sept. 4, 2015 to total at least 75.

Gonzalez put down a career-high 31 kills at a .344 clip, the fourth-highest single-match total in school history and highest amount in a five-set match. It is her third-straight double-figure kill and third 20-plus kill match for the reigning Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Gonzalez is the first Cyclone to total 30 since two-time All-American Victoria Henson hit 30 against Colorado on Oct. 18, 2008. Gonzalez' final stat line included 31 kills, 12 digs, three aces and two solo blocks for a total of 36.0 points, also the first 30-plus point performance since 2008. It is Gonzalez' third double-double.

Morgan Brandt was dominant again at setter, ascending 60 assists for a new career high of 61. It is the first 60-plus assists outing since Monique Harris (64) at West Virginia on Sept. 30, 2016. Brandt added 11 digs for her 11^th double-double this season.

Maya Duckworth also had her third straight 10-plus kill match, totaling 13. Alexis Engelbrecht (14 at .423) and Lilly Wachholz (13 at .286) also had 10-plus kills making for four in double figures.

Brooke Stonestreet moved up a spot to now rank 20^th in Iowa State history with 952 career digs as the libero totaled 24. It is Stonestreet sixth 20-plus dig match of the season and 17^th of her career.

SET ONE

After a tie of 4-4, Kansas took a run of four to begin the match. ISU then came back within two (12-10) after an ace by Morgan Brandt and kills by a trio of Cyclones. The Jayhawks followed to go up by five, but Iowa State battled back within one at 16-15. Gonzalez then hit a hot streak, hitting four straight kills to give ISU the lead of 19-17. Duckworth then put down the crosscourt kill to put the Cyclones up 23-20, as Iowa State went on to seal the set on a Wachholz kill 25-22. Gonzalez let with eight kills at .312 hitting.

SET TWO

KU ran out to an early lead, while Gonzalez collected three more kills to come within four at 12-8. With the Jayhawks up 18-12, Gonzalez would slam down six kills to total 16 and bring the Cyclones deficit down to one at 19-18. Iowa State would tie it at 20s and 21s on kills by Duckworth Engelbrecht, while KU would find set point at 24-21. ISU would fight it off three times to extend the set, but Kansas pulled ahead 26-24 to tie up the match 1-1.

SET THREE

Iowa State would knot the set at 3-3 as Jordan Hopp hit the kill off the slide. Wachholz would follow to send over three kills as KU held the narrow lead of 9-8, before ISU hit a scoring run of four to take a lead of 12-10. Another run five capped with Engelbrecht totaling her 10^th kill brought it to 17-12, ISU. KU would battle back to retake the lead at 20-19 and remain with it to take the match lead by a third set score of 25-23.

SET FOUR
Iowa State went up 4-2 after two kills and an ace by Duckworth, while the set saw even scoring to follow. After a tie at 12-12, Kansas tallied its sixth attack error of the set causing Iowa State to go up 14-12. Kansas would retake the lead, but Iowa State took it right back on its way to finding set point at 24-21 as Wachholz put the kill through the block. Kansas took the next two but Iowa State went ahead 25-23 to force the fifth.

SET FIVE
Iowa State grabbed the first two points after a block by Brandt and Hopp and an ace by Duckworth. Gonzalez hit kill No. 30 to put ISU up 4-1, following to put up the solo block. Gonzalez took control of the set, serving to three-straight aces to put ISU up 13-3. Iowa State never let up, sealing the five-set victory on an Engelbrecht kill, 15-3.

NEXT UP

Iowa State closes out the Kansas series tomorrow, with action beginning at 4 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Alexis Engelbrecht

Nayeli Gonzalez

Jordan Hopp

Brooke Stonestreet

Lilly Wachholz