Iowa State Downs No. 18 Baylor

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (12-2, 3-0 Big 12) downed No. 18 Baylor (6-6, 0-2 Big 12) to remain unbeaten in Big 12 play Saturday afternoon. The victory came in five sets by set scores of 25-17, 19-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-8 for the program's 42nd-ranked victory under Christy Johnson-Lynch.

Iowa State won the first set but dropped the next two, following to force a fifth after coming back from being down by as much as four in the fourth for the 26th victory over Baylor in the all-time series. Nayeli Gonzalez put together a stellar outing, totaling 24 kills at .475 hitting. The freshman also had six digs, two aces and a block, totaling 26.5 points for her second match this season with 20-plus points.

Gonzalez had her eighth match in double figures and second-straight while becoming the first Cyclone to total 20-plus kills since Eleanor Holthaus on Sept. 28, 2022, also in a match against Baylor.

Morgan Brandt had her 10^th-career double-double and eighth this season recording the assist on 43 kills and tallying 10 digs. Brooke Stonestreet was crucial in the victory with her match-leading 18 digs.

SET ONE

Baylor jumped out to a 4-0 start, with the Cyclones battling back to tie it powered by two-straight aces by Gonzalez. Even scoring followed as the sides remained within two of each other, before ISU hit a run of three to go up 15-12 on a block by Lilly Wachholz and Jordan Hopp. Iowa State remained ahead as Maya Duckworth and Gonzalez hit consecutive kills, both their third, to go up 18-14. The Cyclones continued to roll, taking the set 25-17 on Alexis Engelbrecht's third kill on three swings.

SET TWO

After a successful Iowa State challenge, the Cyclones led 5-3 to begin the set. With ISU up 6-4, Baylor then hit a run of five to lead 9-6 and cause a Cyclone timeout. ISU again battled back to 10-10 on a streak of three including two Gonazlez kills. Baylor would run ahead 22-14, but Iowa State fought on to make it 22-18. Baylor would follow to tie up the match by a set score of 25-19.

SET THREE

Duckworth would put down her third kill of the set as ISU took a lead of 9-8, while five ties followed as Gonzalez put down her 10^th kill at 13-13. Three ISU errors aided in Baylor taking four-straight to then go up by four (17-13). Baylor would take the set 25-15 after a run of seven, holding ISU to .057 hitting in the set.

SET FOUR
Baylor put the first four points on the board, while the Gonzalez brought the Cyclones within two (7-5) on her 13^th kill. With Baylor up 14-10, Brandt then notched her third setter kill. The Cyclones battled on to tie things at 17 on a Kiersten Schmitt kill. Gonzalez dominated the set, hitting three-straight kills to total 18 at .438 to bring ISU to set point (24-22). A fifth set was forced on an Annie Hatch ace, 25-22.

SET FIVE

Gonzalez put down her 19^th kill as ISU led 3-0, causing Baylor to call the early timeout. The Cyclones held the lead of 8-4 on a Schmitt kill as the teams switched sides. Iowa State never let up taking the set 15-8 while hitting at .533 through the set to win the match.

NEXT UP

ISU continues the Baylor series tomorrow at 2 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPN and tickets are available here.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Alexis Engelbrecht

Nayeli Gonzalez

Annie Hatch

Eleanor Holthaus

Jordan Hopp

Kiersten Schmitt

Brooke Stonestreet

Lilly Wachholz

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