It was just another day at the office against the Wildcats for senior outside hitter Carly Jenson. That is, if just another day at the office is hitting .519 with 16 kills and 14 digs.

“All great teams have a go-to [player],” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “I really feel like every great team has to have someone they know they can count on. Carly is the definition of a go-to for us.”

The No. 13 Cyclones swept Kansas State (25-23, 25-21, 25-14) to improve their record to 21-4 overall and 12-2 in the Big 12. Iowa State is also ranked No. 2 in the last ratings percentage index poll, which is highest in school history.

“I thought it was a little sluggish at times and not very sharp,” Johnson-Lynch said. “We had stretches where we were good, and we had stretches where we didn’t execute.”

It was a slow start for Iowa State in set one, and Johnson-Lynch partially credited that to having a week off. The Wildcats had the lead in set one at 15-13 and were tied at 23-23 at one point. Then after a big kill by middle back Jamie Straube and an attack error by Kansas State, the Cyclones escaped the first set up 1-0. 

Set two was a game of runs, and like Johnson-Lynch mentioned, was streaky. The Cyclones jumped out to a 7-1 lead, but managed to let the Wildcats cut the deficit to one at 12-13. Iowa State then went on another run to make 23-14, but allowed Kansas State to go on a 6-0 run to make it 23-20. Iowa State then finished the set with an attack error by the Wildcats and a set-winning kill from freshman Victoria Hurtt. 

Iowa State then ran away with the third set 25-14 hitting .308 and holding Kansas State to .028. 

On offense, after Jenson, the Cyclones were led by committee as Victoria Hurtt and Kelsey Petersen had eight kills each and behind them, middle backs Jamie Straube and Tenisha Matlock recorded six and five kills, respectively. 

Coming on for the Cyclones as of late are Peterson, as a right side, and Hurtt, as an outside. 

After filling in for a struggling Hannah Willms, Hurtt has had 41 kills and hit on a .348 clip over the last four games. Over that same stretch Petersen has hit .300 with 38 kills. 

“I just try to work hard every single play,” Hurtt said. “I just want to come in every single practice and work hard and make sure I’m getting better.”

Other teams have been focusing on stopping Jenson and the middles which leaves a lot of one on one advantages for Peterson on the right side.

“Carly and the middles are doing a good job of opening the block for me,” Petersen said.

When asked if she thought she was playing the best volleyball of her career, Petersen responded, “Definitely… . I feel like since I’m a senior, I’m a lot more fearless.”