Completed Event: Volleyball at #12 Arizona State on October 4, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 3
Final
Volleyball
1
#12 Arizona State
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Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Ames, Iowa
2:00 PM
Iowa State
3
vs
2
Utah
Bettis Leads ISU to Win Over Utah, 3-2
10.17.2026 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (12-7, 6-2 Big 12) battled Utah (12-6, 4-3 Big 12) for the five-set win by scores of 26-28, 25-23, 19-25, 30-28, 15-11.
After dropping the opener in extra points, Iowa State came back to win the second set after being down by as much as six late in the set. The Cyclones fell in the third but fought on to win another extended set 30-28 to force a fifth. ISU went on to take the win in a match that saw 31 tie scores and 14 lead changes.
Mesaiya Bettis had the first double-double of her career and stretched her double-figure kill streak to three matches with 11 kills and 12 digs. Bettis had a monster match also putting up five blocks (3 solo, 2 assisted).
Pam McCune and Nayeli Ti'a also were in double figures with 10 kills.
Nayeli Ti'a hit a career milestone of 100 aces with four in the match, while the Cyclones served 13 in total for the 30th match under Christy Johnson-Lynch to hit 10-plus.
Rachel Van Gorp had 20 digs before the end of the third set and went on to total 25 digs, seven assists and three aces today. It was the libero's sixth match this season and 19th of her career with 20-plus.
SET ONE
Ti'a put down an ace as the Cyclones reached 10 with the Utes at 6. A kill by Ti'a then put ISU at 15-11, and ISU would reach 20 (20-15) as Macie Lupkes served the Cyclones' fifth ace of the set. Utah came back within two at 21-19 to cause an Iowa State timeout and came out of the break with two blocks to knot the score. Utah would send the set to extras matching ISU at 24 and 25, and after two ISU set points the Utes found one of their own at 26-25. The set would go on, with Utah taking the set at 28-26. Utah hit at .484 with zero errors.
SET TWO
Iowa State won a rally featuring crucial saves by Van Gorp and Ella Florez as ISU led 3-2. Bettis followed with a kill, but Utah took the next four to go ahead 6-4. Van Gorp had another incredible save, while the Cyclones went on to win the point with a block to pull ahead 8-7. Utah responded retaking the lead and went on to hold the 15-10 advantage midway through. ISU called a timeout after Utah reached 20 (20-14) and the Cyclones fought back to cut their deficit to two at 21-19. Iowa State did not let up, coming back to tie things at 22s after two D'Aaliyah Kemp kills and a block by Ti'a and Macie Lupkes. Iowa State reached set point on a Nayeli Gonzalez kill, and took the set on the next point on a Florez ace.
SET THREE
Utah continued hitting dominantly, outhitting the Cyclones .348 to -.040 without an error to reach the media timeout up 15-8. The Utes again reached 20 first, with the Cyclones at 13. Utah kept control of the set to again go up with the match lead by a set score of 25-19.
SET FOUR
Ti'a served her 100th career ace, and third of the match, to make it 2-1, ISU. Utah followed taking the lead, but ISU provided another lead change at 6-5 after a block by Bettis and McCune. Iowa State led 15-11 after a big kill by Kemp, extending a scoring run to five. After Van Gorp served ace No. 3 of the day, ISU hit 20 points with Utah at 15. Utah would knot the score back up at 23-23, while Bettis had two late kills bringing ISU to set point each time. ISU reached set point twice more after kills by Alea Goolsby, but Utah again fought it off. Iowa State won the marathon of a set at 30-28 on a block by Ti'a and Abbi Brenizer.
SET FIVE
Iowa State never let up, scoring six before Utah got on the board. Ti'a put down her fourth ace of the match as the Cyclones went ahead 8-3, and ISU went on to win the match by a set score of 15-11.
Next up
Iowa State has a midweek bye before traveling to Houston Sunday, Oct. 25 for a 1 p.m. match.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L
/ VolleyballFriday, October 16
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