ISU Wins Thriller at K-State, 3-2

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Iowa State (14-2, 4-1 Big 12) handed Kansas State (9-4, 2-3 Big 12) the loss in a thrilling five-set match, ending a six-match win streak in the series and ISU's first win in Manhattan since 2020.

After losing the first set, Iowa State responded hitting at .300 in the second to knot the match up. The third set saw extended points, but KSU would prevail to again go ahead. The Cyclones then controlled the fourth to force a fifth. ISU held the momentum winning the winner-take-all set for the tough road win. Set scores on the night were 16-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 15-11.

Morgan Brandt neared a triple-double with 53 assists, nine digs and an errorless 8 kills on 12 swings (.667 hitting). The star also had two blocks and an ace. Brandt hit a season high in assists, and career highs in kills and hitting percentage.

Rachel Van Gorp kept her impressive streak of double-figure digs alive at 21-straight matches with 30 hard-fought digs on the night. The total is a career high, while Van Gorp had eight digs in the first and fourth sets alone.

Freshman Reagan Hanfelt hit her first nine kills without an error and had her first 10-plus kill match with 14 at .435 hitting. Not to be outdone, Hanfelt also put up eight blocks and five digs in just the third match of her career.

Nayeli Ti'a went out to her fourth-straight match with double-figure kills hitting 13 and Faith DeRonde had crucial kills as she put up 12 at .345. Pam McCune was the fourth in double figures with 10. Ti'a also had a double-double with 10 digs.

SET ONE
KSU found themselves ahead by 10 at 13-3 and the Wildcats remained with a double-digit lead as Iowa State called its second and final timeout of the set at 17-6. Kansas State would go on to take the opening set 25-16.

SET TWO

McCune and Ti'a began the set with a block, and ISU remained with the lead before K-State flipped it at 6-5. Another lead change came at 11-10 after three-straight kills by the Cyclones, but Kansas State took it right back. With the Wildcats up 15-12 at the media timeout, ISU took the next six in a run featuring two setter kills by Brandt to lead 18-15. Iowa State was the first to 20 (20-18), and Brandt's fourth kill brought ISU to set point at 24-20. A block by McCune and Alea Goolsby ended the set at 25-22 to tie up the match. Hanfelt led the set with an errorless five kills on eight swings.

SET THREE

Kansas State led 5-1 to start, while Hanfelt put down her sixth kill next to quiet the crowd. The rookie got another to draw within three (6-3) while Iowa State was the first to 15 at 15-11. Hanfelt delivered No. 9 on just 12 swings (.750 hitting) at 18-15, and the kills kept coming as Brandt fooled K-State sending her sixth to the floor to remain up at 21-19. KSU tied it at 21s, but ISU took the next two leading to a Wildcat timeout. A Cyclone block brought things to set point but KSU fought it off twice to tie the score. The set extended, with Kansas State taking it 27-25.

SET FOUR

ISU took a run of three for an early 6-4 lead as Ti'a and Hanfelt entered double figures. Back-and-forth action followed with a tie at 11-11, but the Cyclones flipped the momentum to its favor running ahead 18-12 as KSU took its second timeout. DeRonde had a big kill to bring ISU to set point at 24-16. The Wildcats string together a run of three, but a Ti'a kill set up the five setter.

SET FIVE

A KSU service error put ISU on the board first, and after a successful Cyclone challenge Iowa State went up 2-0. Iowa State won another challenge the next play, resulting in a replay after a successful pancake dig ruling. ISU then won its fourth-straight challenge to keep KSU off the board, and KSU took a timeout at 6-1 after ISU won a long rally on yet another kill by Brandt. KSU took three straight to make it 12-8, but DeRonde put a stop to it with a kill. DeRonde was not done, putting the finishing touches on the match with her fifth kill of the set to ends things at 15-11. ISU remains unbeaten in five-set matches this season at 3-0.

NEXT UP

Iowa State next travels to Lawrence to meet No. 15 Kansas Friday, Oct. 10. The match begins at 6 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Faith DeRonde

Alea Goolsby

Reagan Hanfelt

Pam McCune

Nayeli Ti'a

Rachel Van Gorp

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics