Hopp Leads ISU to Road Win Over #21 Houston

HOUSTON, Texas – Iowa State (18-9, 9-7 Big 12) took the road victory over No. 21 Houston (17-8, 10-6 Big 12) in five sets (25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 15-25, 16-14). Iowa State ended Houston's eight-match win streak, while sealing the third ranked victory of the season.

Iowa State took the first two sets, while Houston followed to tie up the match to force a fifth. The Cyclones never gave up, going on to take the fifth for ISU's fifth Big 12 road win.

Brooke Stonestreet crossed the barrier of 1,000 digs on her career after entering the night with 999, Stonestreet totaled 17 in the match to become the 18^th Cyclone to notch 1,000. The libero totaled her 20^th double-figure dig outing of the season to now rank 16th in ISU history with 1,016.

Jordan Hopp put up a stellar performance of 14 kills at .520 while leading the match with seven blocks. Nayeli Gonzalez had her fourth double-double totaling 14 kills and a career-high 18 digs. It was her 16^th double-figure performance. Lilly Wachholz was the third in double figures, sending over 11 kills while putting up four blocks and serving to two aces.

Morgan Brandt tied her career high with seven kills at .500 hitting. The setter assisted on 45 kills, had five digs and an ace and a block.

SET ONE

Stonestreet totaled dig No. 1,000 as Gonzalez went on to slam down the kill on an assist from Brandt, making it 8-5 as Houston led. The Cyclones proceeded to hit a 4-0 run capped on a solo block by Maya Duckworth to take the lead at 12-11. ISU hit three straight kills, two by Hopp and one by Gonzalez to hold the advantage at 15-13. ISU made it 23-19 on Gonzalez' fourth kill to cause a UH timeout. Out of the timeout, the Cyclones extended the run to take the set after a Duckworth kill and block by Hopp and Duckworth 25-19.

SET TWO

Hopp hit her fourth kill on five swings to make it 3-1, ISU to start. Hopp kept it rolling, hitting her seventh at .700 hitting to bring Iowa State ahead at 13-9. Houston would come back to tie the score at 18s after the Cyclones held a five-point lead of 15-10. Iowa State would end the Cougars' run of five winning a long rally on a Duckworth kill to knot the score at 19-19. After another tie at 20s, Iowa State went on to end the set ahead 25-23 on a Gonzalez kill. Iowa State hit at an efficiency of .351 in the set.

SET THREE

Hopp tallied her 10^th kill at .714 to make it 2-1 ISU, but Houston answered taking back the lead at 6-3 for an ISU timeout early on. Houston held the lead, while Gonzalez put down her 10^th kill to come within five (15-10). The Cougars found their way to 20 points while ISU held 14, and extended the match with a set score of 25-18 hitting at .565 in the set, while the Cyclones also hit over. 300 in the frame at .321.

SET FOUR
Houston led at 10-4 while Iowa State called its first timeout. The lead remained with the home team as the Cougars stretched a seven-point advantage (19-12) with Hopp and Brandt following to put down kills. Houston reached set point at 24-15 and took the next point to force a fifth.

SET FIVE

Wachholz ninth kill put ISU up first, but UH took the next three. The sides kept it even, with Brandt sending over her sixth setter kill to tie it at 5-5. A successful Iowa State challenge then flipped the score from 7-5 to another tie at 6-6. ISU took the next point on a Houston attack error, but the Cougars put up the block while Houston's Kenna Sauer totaled her 17^th kill to hold the lead of 8-7 as the teams switched sides. Alexis Engelbrecht then put up a wall for the Cyclones' ninth block. ISU extended the run to four with a Wachholz kill and block by Wachholz and Hopp to bring ISU ahead 11-8. Brandt's seventh kill made it 13-9, with the Cyclones finding match point on Hopp's 14^th kill but UH responded taking the next three. The Cyclones never let up, going on to seal the road victory 16-14.

NEXT UP

Iowa State will return home next week for the final two home matches, first taking on UCF Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. before Senior Day against Cincinnati on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Alexis Engelbrecht

Nayeli Gonzalez

Jordan Hopp

Brooke Stonestreet

Lilly Wachholz