The ISU volleyball team continued its conference win streak Saturday night with a sweep of Oklahoma (25-13, 25-19, 25-23) at Ames High School.

With a conference record of 3-1 while holding the Big 12’s top hitting percentage, the Cyclones are preparing for another tough stretch of matches as No. 13 Texas is next in line. 

Finishing things off

No. 10 Iowa State (10-2, 3-1 Big 12) reversed its recent trend of dropping the first set of a match by dominating Oklahoma (10-4, 2-1), hitting .460 compared to the Sooners’ .209 hitting percentage in the first two sets.

The third set, however, became an uncomfortable tug of war between the two teams, with two lead changes and two tied-score moments.

“I thought we played a good half of a match,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “I thought we started to get a little complacent and just didn’t look as sharp the second half of that match.”

Despite the uneasy feeling in the stomachs of the Cyclone faithful, a service error by the Sooners’ Brianna Barker put the Cyclones at match point.

Two plays later, a kill by senior outside hitter Victoria Henson put the match away for the Cyclones, as they won the third set 25-23 to take the match.

“No one wanted to go to a fourth set [against Oklahoma],” Henson said. “So we were glad to get it done in three.”

Henson’s game-winning kill was her match-high 17th of the match.

Tenisha Matlock

True freshman Tenisha Matlock had her number called midway through the second set Saturday to provide a physical presence for the cardinal and gold.

Two plays after coming on to the court, she notched her first solo block of her career, denying Oklahoma’s Cortney Warren to increase the Cyclones’ lead to six.

“I thought Tenisha did a good job. She came in and made an immediate impact,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think she just does some really nice things. She’s such a physical athlete that she can make huge plays like that. She can come in and get solo blocks and huge kills. She’s just an impressive athlete.”

However, Johnson-Lynch still sees room for improvement for the North Platte, Neb., native.

“She was a little too high-air, so we need to work on that, and she needs to learn how to keep the ball in play when it’s not a perfect set,” Johnson-Lynch said.

For Matlock, the uncertainty of whether or not she will be called to action can sometimes create some jitters for her.

“I get the biggest butterflies in my stomach going in after a game or two games knowing that I have to go in and perform at the highest level I can,” Matlock said.

However, she doesn’t let her nerves take over when she is put in a tough situation like that.

“I play to my full potential every time I go on the court,” Matlock said.

Turning heads

Junior outside hitter Carly Jenson has been mentioned as a catalyst for the Cyclones’ resilience in spite of all that has happened.

“Carly Jenson has stepped up big time,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I knew she would be good, I didn’t know she would be this good.”

Jenson is second on the team in kills with 126 and has been hitting for .277 on the season with an even three kills per set. She also leads the team in service aces with 13.

“Every night you know you can count on her to put up big numbers,” Johnson-Lynch said of the Omaha, Neb., native. “She just shows so much composure and poise for someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience.”