ISU Takes Victory Over GCU, Remains Undefeated

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (5-0, 0-0 Big 12) won over GCU (3-2, 0-0 WAC) Saturday night to remain undefeated. The Cyclones are 5-0 on the season for the first time since 2017.

The Cyclone blockers put on a show, totaling 16 while being led by Jordan Hopp with a career performance of six solo and three blocks assists for a total of nine. The senior also showed her offense, totaling nine kills on 16 attempts with zero errors (.562 hitting). Hopp's six solo blocks ties for the third-highest single match total while the team's 13 solo blocks now ranks at No. 3 in school history.

Morgan Brandt dialed in a new career high with 49 assists, topping her previous best of 34 also set this season. The setter had her third double-double, also totaling 12 digs, three aces, two blocks and two kills. Libero Brooke Stonestreet was also crucial to the victory as she totaled 29 digs, her first 20-plus dig performance of the season.

Nayeli Gonzalez nearly dialed in a 20-plus kill performance with 17 at a percentage of .300, the highest total in her young career. Maya Duckworth brought in 14 kills, 12 digs and three aces for the first double-double of her season. Annie Hatch was the third Cyclone in double figures, achieving the total at an efficiency of .310.

SET ONE

GCU got on the board first but Maya Duckworth had the answer, slamming down the kill to open the match. ISU hit bursts of scoring as the match continued to build a lead of six at 11-5 while Gonzalez hit back-to-back kills. The Cyclones remained up while Hatch tallied her fourth kill on eight attempts, bringing the score to 20-13. The Lopes battled back trimming their deficit to two at 21-19 while ISU put up two-straight blocks to reach set point. A kill by Gonzalez then gave ISU the match lead with a set score of 25-20.

SET TWO

ISU began the set on a 6-1 run including two kills by Pam McCune. The Cyclones never fell behind, extending a double-digit lead at 20-10 on a Hatch ace. Morgan Brandt then got in on the attack effort, immediately putting down the kill as the ball came across the net to keep ISU hot. The Cyclones went on to take the set 25-13 after hitting at .577 and putting down 17 kills through the set.

SET THREE

Two solo blocks by freshman McCune began the third to give ISU the lead at 5-4. Duckworth then served up two-straight aces to total three on the match. GCU then came back within one at 12-11 and followed to take their first lead of the set on an ace at 14-13. After Grand Canyon went up by four, Iowa State won a long rally while Hopp recorded her sixth kill with zero errors to fight back. Out of a GCU timeout, Gonzalez kept it going with a kill and a solo block to tie it at 20. The battle continued as three ties were seen from there, but GCU came out with the set victory to keep the match going.

SET FOUR

GCU started up 4-1, but the Cyclones knotted things up at 5 after a Hatch ace. Five lead changes followed before Hopp's fifth block gave ISU the advantage at 15-14. The lead continued to flip before GCU hit a run of six to take the set 25-20 and force a fifth.

SET FIVE

The Cyclones opened with the first two points while the ties continued to be seen. Jordan Hopp came alive with back-to-back blocks, her eighth of the match to put ISU up 8-5 as the teams switched sides. Iowa State pressed on, taking a lead of 13-7 after two kills and a solo block by McCune. Iowa State didn't let down, taking the victory by a set score of 15-11.

NEXT UP

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series is up next as Iowa State travels to Iowa City to meet the Hawkeyes Wednesday, September 6 at 6 p.m.

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Team Stats

Nayeli Gonzalez

Maya Duckworth

Annie Hatch

Jordan Hopp

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Nayeli Gonzalez

Annie Hatch

Jordan Hopp

Pam McCune

Brooke Stonestreet

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Nayeli Gonzalez

Annie Hatch

Jordan Hopp

Pam McCune

Brooke Stonestreet

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics