Iowa State’s hopes of a Big 12 championship were not dashed on Sept. 27, but its performance in its conference opener certainly did not help the cause.

The Run-Down

The ISU volleyball team (7-4, 0-1 Big 12) fell in four sets to Texas Christian (11-5, 1-1 Big 12) in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU beat Iowa Sate 25-15, 18-25, 30-28, 25-16. While the match itself was relatively tight, every set except for one was decided by a considerable point differential.

Context

Iowa State traveled to Texas less than two days after a knock-down, drag out match at Northern Iowa, which saw the Cyclones pushed to a fifth set for the first time all season.

The match against the TCU Horned Frogs was the Cyclones’ fifth road contest in a two week span. The only match it played in Ames during that stretch was on Sept. 20 against in-state rival Iowa, winning 3-0.

Both senior Victoria Hurtt and redshirt freshman Samara West played through injuries against the Horned Frogs.

The Tipping Point

After splitting the first two sets, each of which were decided by a considerable margin, the Cyclones and the Horned Frogs squared off in a pivotal third set that took more than the usual 25 points to be decided.

The Cyclones gained a 24-23 advantage and were afforded the first opportunity at a set point.

Iowa State could not capitalize, however, and after a number of points that went back and forth, Texas Christian ultimately topped Iowa State in the third stanza, 30-28.

The intensity and emotion of the third set presumably robbed the Cyclones of some of their fire, while adding fuel to the Horned Frogs’ effort.

Texas Christian jumped on Iowa State early in the fourth, nabbing an early 13-4 lead that it would not relinquish. TCU finished off the match, 25-16.

Stats

Hurtt, despite battling a foot injury, tallied 11 kills in the match to lead the Cyclones.

Junior hitter Mackenzie Bigbee added 10 kills and redshirt sophomore hitter Morgan Kuhrt had an impressive showing, piling up 9 kills of her own.

The most telling offensive stat of the match was that Texas Christian was far more efficient than Iowa State, posting a hitting percentage of .331 while Iowa State was able to muster a percentage of only .176.

On the Horizon

It is only Big 12 play for the Cyclones from here on out, who head to Austin, Texas on Oct. 1 to take on the No. 2 Texas Longhorns. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.