No. 11 Iowa State (4-2) has dropped two straight matches in the Iowa State Challenge after starting the season 4-0. No. 18 Illinois swept Iowa State 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-16) on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.

The match against the Illini was the first time the Cyclones have been swept this season.

Sophomore right side hitter Mackenzie Bigbee led the Cyclones offensively with 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Victoria Hurtt added another nine kills to the team total.

Iowa State struggled defensively against Illinois. Senior libero Kristen Hahn had only 13 digs on the afternoon, below her average of more than five digs per set.

Sophomore outside hitter Jocelynn Birks led Illinois’ offense with 11 kills and the Illini also had two more players with nine kills each.

The Cyclones will travel to Lincoln, Neb., for the Ameritas Players Challenge on Thursday. Iowa State will face Dayton, St. Mary’s and Nebraska.