ISU Tops CMU, Hits Highest Since 2007

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) had sweep No. 3 of the season with the Friday morning win over Central Michigan (1-3, 0-0 MAC) by set scores of 25-11, 25-18, 25-14. Iowa State hit at .462 to begin the Panther Invite, now the seventh-highest hitting percentage in program history.

The hitting efficiency goes down as the best since 2007, when ISU hit at .494 at Drake. It also marks the first time under Christy Johnson-Lynch and just the second time in program history (1992) for ISU to hit over .400 in two-straight matches. Johnson-Lynch has now led the Cyclones to hit over .400 in 18 matches.

Maya Duckworth led the match with 11 kills (.455 hitting), while Tierney Jackson followed right behind with 10 at a .529 hitting percentage. Five Cyclones ended the night hitting five or more kills at .350 or better. Duckworth had her 50th career match with double figure kills.

Jackson also led all blockers with three total, while Rachel Van Gorp led the match in two categories with 10 digs and three aces. Van Gorp extends her double-figure dig streak to eight matches, dating back to last season.

SET ONE
With Duckworth at the service line, the Cyclones strung together a run of seven to get the lead at 10-3. The Cyclones kept control from there, allowing CMU to score just 11 points in the set. Jackson led with four kills at .429, while six Cyclones hit multiple kills.

SET TWO

After falling behind by five (11-6), Iowa State bounced back on a run beginning with a Lilly Wachholz kill to tie things at 12s. It remained a tight race deep into the frame, but after a pair of kills by Amiree Hendricks-Walker and a Morgan Brandt ace, ISU grabbed a four-point lead at 20-16. A Wachholz kill sealed the set at 25-18, giving the Cyclones the 2-0 match lead.

SET THREE

The Cyclones jumped in front at 6-1, leading to an early CMU timeout. Jackson entered double figures with her 10th kill to make it 10-5 hitting at .643. Duckworth then followed suit and hit her 10th kill, also hitting efficiently at .429 as she put ISU up 15-8. ISU cruised ahead, hitting nine kills with just one error (.533 percent) in the frame to win it at 25-14.

NEXT UP
Iowa State is back in action tonight at 7 p.m. to meet the host of the Panther Invite, Milwaukee. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Team Stats

Maya Duckworth

Tierney Jackson

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Lilly Wachholz

Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Tierney Jackson

Rachel Van Gorp

Lilly Wachholz

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics