CEDAR FALLS — Going into a hostile environment like the McLeod Center, the ISU volleyball team wanted to suck the life out of it and take the crowd out of the game. Instead, the previously undefeated Cyclones were the ones that had the life sucked out of them.

No. 15 Northern Iowa (7-1) swept No. 12 Iowa State (9-1) in Cedar Falls on Tuesday night (26-24, 25-26, 25-18) to end the Cyclones’ best start in school history. 

“We were bad tonight,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “We couldn’t get anything going and it showed.”

Iowa State had been a blocking team in the matches this year. Against Northern Iowa, the Cyclones only had four blocks overall, while Northern Iowa had 13. Five of those blocks came from Shelby Kintzel. 

“Typically we frustrate teams with our defense,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Tonight they frustrated and rattled us with their defense.”

The Panthers also had seven aces to Iowa State’s two. The entire match, Northern Iowa’s serves kept Iowa State off balance. 

“They served us off the court,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Other than a few good runs, we were chasing them the entire match.”

The Panthers statistically dominated the match on both sides of the ball. Not only did they outserve and outblock the Cyclones, they also were able to rack up 40 kills at a .225 clip while holding them to 30 kills at a .093 clip.

The Panthers also had fewer errors and more assists than the visiting Cyclones. 

Individually, Iowa State was thrown off by the dynamic play of UNI setter Bre Payton. 

“She’s a very difficult player to prepare for,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Most teams don’t revolve around their setter, and she just makes her hitters better.”

Payton not only had a 30-set night, but also had seven kills, four digs, two blocks and an ace. 

For Iowa State, Hannah Willms led the team with 10 kills, but on a .065 clip. Kristen Hahn led the Cyclones with 13 digs, which is down from her average 5.8 digs per set.

After a 5-0 start to the first set, Northern Iowa took control of not only the game, but the entire atmosphere. 

“After we started strong, they just took off from there,” said setter Allison Landwehr. “We started off with some nice swings and blocks, but we just lost it.”

Johnson-Lynch knows that one match doesn’t define the season and that the Cyclones have their hands full already going to Lincoln, Neb., for this weekend’s rivalry game against No. 11 Nebraska.