In the first-ever match between No. 19 Iowa State and Texas Christian, the Cyclones were victorious in straight sets Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.

The sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-17) against the Horned Frogs (13-3, 2-1 Big 12) is the first for the Cyclones (8-5, 2-1) since Sept. 7 against Eastern Washington.

Despite the win, ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch thought her team could have played better.

“We had some good performances, just like individual skills,” Johnson-Lynch said. “But as a whole, I think we can be better still.”

That sentiment was echoed by players too.

“It’s nice to see a team like TCU that we haven’t seen yet,” said libero Kristen Hahn. “I thought we played OK, but I think we have another level in us.”

The Cyclones took a 2-0 lead to intermission, and despite third-set struggles at times this season, they were able to complete the sweep after the break.

Middle blocker Jamie Straube — who played in just three of the team’s five sets on Wednesday against Kansas — bounced back and led the way for the Cyclone offense with 12 kills and one block assist.

“In any sport you kind of have to have a short-term memory,” Straube said. “You had a great win, you have to forget it. You had a tough loss, you have to forget it.”

The Cyclones out-dug the Horned Frogs 60-49, and three players reached double digits in digs. Hahn contributed 15 of those digs along with four assists in the win.

Iowa State will spend next week on the road and won’t return to Hilton Coliseum until Oct. 10 when the team takes on another new Big 12 member in West Virginia. 

One thing Johnson-Lynch would like to see from her team moving forward is more consistency.

“It’s up to them really, I think it’s something that leaders have to take charge of,” Johnson-Lynch said of how consistency can improve. “When we see practice dropping off, we need our leaders to make it a point to play more aggressively, be more vocal, be more enthusiastic, be more focused.”

The Cyclones won’t have much practice time before they play again. The team will return to the court Wednesday to take on No. 15 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.