Cyclones Win Big 12 Opener vs. WVU

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (7-5, 1-0 Big 12) topped West Virginia (6-7, 0-2 Big 12) in five sets by scores of 25-14, 25-15, 18-25, 23-25, 17-15 Saturday. ISU has now won five straight in the series.

After dominantly opening the match with a 2-0 lead hitting over .500 through the first two sets, West Virginia responded to take the next two and lead the majority of the fifth. ISU pulled away late in the final set to grab the win. It was the Cyclones' sixth five setter of the season.

ISU hit over. 300 for the third time this season, outhitting WVU .340-.221 through the match. Amiree Hendricks-Walker was the star, notching a career-high 18 kills at a season-high .593 hitting.

Lilly Wachholz and Maya Duckworth extended their double-digit kill streaks to five matches, with Wachholz totaling 16 and Duckworth 10.

Morgan Brandt has 44 assists, five setter kills on eight attempt while tying Pam McCune for the match lead of four total blocks. Brooke Stonestreet went out to her third 20-plus dig match this season with 26.

SET ONE

ISU ran ahead 5-0 early while Wachholz nailed down two early kills on two swings as WVU called timeout. WVU took the first point out of the timeout, but Iowa State continued to put down kills to lead 9-1. The Cyclones reached 20 points on Wachholz' fifth kill (.714 hitting) while WVU held eight points. ISU would take the set 25-14 while totaling 17 kills at .500 hitting.

SET TWO

Duckworth took over the set totaling six kills at a perfect hitting percentage as ISU went up 10-5. After a long rally featuring crucial digs by Stonestreet and Paula Krzeslak, the Cyclones won the point making it 17-9. ISU won another long rally as Duckworth dove into the broadcasting table to save the ball and make it 22-15. The Cyclones won the second 25-15, hitting at .550 in the set.

SET THREE

WVU would make it an even 7-7 and go on to take a lead at 10-9. The Mountaineers would continue to hold the lead, while Duckworth halted a 3-0 WVU run with her eighth kill to put the scoreboard at 19-14. West Virginia took the set to force a fourth 25-18, outhitting ISU .364-.219 in the frame.

SET FOUR
Iowa State had back-to-back blocks to tie the score at 4s, but WVU continued to lead. Hendricks-Walker sent her 13^th kill over to hit a new season high, while achieving the total at an efficient .600 hitting. WVU built a lead out to 14-10 as ISU called a timeout, and the Cyclones went on their way to take the lead at 18-17 after two straight Kiersten Schmitt kills. Hendricks-Walker continued her dominant match, slamming down kill No. 16 at .609 hitting to put ISU up 19-18. As ISU led 22-20, another lead flip followed at 23-22. WVU took the set 25-23 to extend the match.

SET FIVE

After a 4-4 tie, WVU went on to lead 7-4. ISU took the next point, but ISU's 10^th service error gave WVU the 8-5 lead as the teams switched sides. A 3-0 Cyclone run brought ISU within two at 11-9, and Iowa State trimmed the deficit to one at 12-11 and 13-12. ISU reached match point first at 15-14, and again at 16-15. After a WVU attack error and unsuccessful Mountaineer challenge, the Cyclones sealed the Big 12-opening victory.

UP NEXT

Iowa State remains home, hosting Cincinnati next Wednesday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m.

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Team Stats

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Lilly Wachholz

Maya Duckworth

Pam McCune

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Paula Krzeslak

Pam McCune

Kiersten Schmitt

Brooke Stonestreet

Lilly Wachholz

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Paula Krzeslak

Pam McCune

Kiersten Schmitt

Brooke Stonestreet

Lilly Wachholz

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics