Having a balanced attack can keep the opposing team guessing. That’s exactly what Oklahoma was doing the entire match. 

On Saturday the No. 16 Cyclones defeated No. 22 Oklahoma in four sets (25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19). With the win, Iowa State moves atop the Big 12 with a 5-1 record in conference and 14-3 overall. 

Iowa State had its most balanced match on offense with four players in double-digit kills. All four Cyclones had at least 13.

“It’s good because we had some other people struggle,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “So it’s good that on different nights we can have different people step up.”

More specifically, Carly Jenson and Jamie Straube both led the offense with 14 kills apiece. Straube had a good night, hitting .400, and added three block assists to her point total. 

Jenson had 14 digs to go along with her 14 kills, recording another double-double on the season. She also had three block assists.

“Although Carly didn’t hit for a high percentage I thought she came through at the end and had some key kills for us,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Our middles are doing a great job for us producing a lot.”

Tenisha Matlock had an outstanding match, earning her season-high with 13 kills on a .357 hitting clip. She also was a force on the defensive side of the ball, totaling four block assists and two solo blocks. 

“Every day in practice she’s working so hard trying to figure it out,” Straube said. “Middle is so hard to learn just coming in with no experience, but she’s stuck with it and it’s paying off for her.”

Redshirt freshman Hannah Willms also tallied her season-high in kills with 13 on a .387 hitting clip. Willms tallied two block assists on the defensive end. 

Straube said when the offense has a balanced attack, it’s impossible to key in on someone. She knows from experience, seeing it firsthand.

“[Being balanced] is huge if we can get our middles established early like we did, because that makes the blockers on the other side think about staying with the middles and that gives the outside hitter a one-on-one block or a little bit of a seam,” Straube said. “I know as a blocker on the other side of the net, it’s really hard when the other team has a really balanced attack, so it’s really good for us to be able to do that.”

Iowa State also held Oklahoma up on the defensive side. The Sooners are leading the Big 12 with a .259 average hitting percentage. On Saturday, they were held to .157. They also average holding their opponents to a .166 hitting clip. This past Saturday, Iowa State as a team hit for .280.

“[Johnson-Lynch] said after the game that the Big 12 is wide open. It’s us, Texas and Oklahoma,” Straube said. “To come in here and be really aggressive and win was important.”