The stage was set for Iowa State to win one of its biggest upsets ever. No. 1 Texas was visiting on senior night in Hilton Coliseum but the Cyclones fell short of a win against the Longhorns.

The No. 25 ISU volleyball team (18-8, 11-4 Big 12) was defeated by No. 1 Texas (22-2, 15-0 Big 12) on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Iowa State lost 3-1 (25-27, 25-17, 13-25, 16-25) in its last regular-season home match.

“We were good for stretches. I thought the first half of that match we were pretty good. We just were not able to sustain it and that’s kind of been our story some of the time,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “We were good. We just weren’t good enough for long enough tonight.”

The first set was back-and-fourth between the teams. Iowa State and Texas were tied on 12 different occasions throughout the first set before Texas won it 27-25. The second set was not as close and Iowa State won handily 25-17.

It seemed to be a different story for Iowa State in the last two sets. The Cyclones were defeated 25-13 and then again 25-16. During the match, the Longhorns were able to hit .336 and record 11 total team blocks against the Cyclones.

“I think there were a few plays in the third and fourth set that we didn’t capitalize on easy balls,” said senior libero Kristen Hahn. “We got really confident and we’d go after it and then we’d get a little scared because they’d get a few points.”

For Iowa State’s two seniors the loss to Texas in their final home match was an emotional one. However, they agreed they would use it as motivation for the rest of their season.

“[This match] just kind of shows us the things we can work on and the areas we can improve on as well,” Matlock said. “I know this just isn’t our last game.”

Through the first three sets Hahn recorded 23 digs against the Longhorns. She finished the match with 24 digs, five assists and one kill on the night.

In her final home game, senior middle blocker Tenisha Matlock had eight kills against the Longhorns. She also added three total blocks and three digs to Iowa State’s effort.

“I want to commend Tenisha [Matlock] and Hahn on such a great career, two very very special young women,” Johnson-Lynch said. “[They] have meant a lot to this program and we’re going to miss them.”