VOLLEYBALL: Cyclones overcome slow start, big block, to advance in tournament
December 6, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Northern Iowa had an impressive win over Iowa State in Ames earlier this season, but the Cyclones retaliated when it mattered most.
For the third straight season, the Cyclones (20-12) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-1 (26-24, 16-25, 25-21, 25-16) win over the Panthers (25-9) in Minneapolis on Friday night.
Just like the first time around, Northern Iowa couldn’t come up with an answer for Iowa State’s Victoria Henson, who threw down 25 kills with a .375 hitting percentage after a 27-kill performance against the Panthers earlier this season. Henson also helped carry the Cyclones to victory in the first round of the tournament last season, when she led the team with 18 kills in a 3-2 win over No. 16 San Diego.
“Victoria Henson had an unbelievable night,” said Iowa State coach Christy Johnson. “She has really emerged as a premier outside hitter for us, and is one of the best maybe in the country. I’m very proud of her performance.”
Northern Iowa knew they had to find a way to slow Henson down, but time after time the Panthers could not find a way to solve the onslaught delivered by the redshirt sophomore from Leavenworth, Kan. Her 25 kills were the most in an NCAA Tournament match in school history.
“We really did not see anyone in our conference that has her ability,” said Northern Iowa coach Bobbi Petersen. “We commit blocks on dominant players in our conference and we usually do a good job of slowing them down. But Victoria has every shot and is very aggressive, so we tried some different things and sometimes we were successful, but a lot of times we weren’t.”
Henson also stepped up for the Cyclones in the back row, as she notched 10 digs, earning Henson her second consecutive double-double, which are the only two of her career.
Henson’s dominant performance wasn’t the only recurring event that mirrored the previous meeting between the two, as the Northern Iowa blocking attack continued to give the Cyclones fits. After outblocking Iowa State 16-4 in the first match, the Panthers led Iowa State 12-6 in the same category Friday.
“In practice we have been preaching ‘hit high, hit high’,” said Iowa State setter Kaylee Manns. “They have a very good, effecient block that we knew we had to get over.”
While her numbers weren’t as gaudy, senior middle blocker Jen Malcom added 11 kills on a .333 attack percentage. Her potential to takeover a match was key for the Cyclones to take the block out of the equation and open up the offense, though.
“It also helps that we have such good hitters they have to commit on people, and that gives me somebody that is one-on-one and open,” said Manns. “A lot of people were committing on (Malcom), which left Victoria wide open a lot of the time.”
With a plethora of hitting options, Manns was able to spread the ball around to eight different hitters and notch 49 set assists and 15 digs. It marked the 48th double-double of her career and her 14th this season. Freshman Rachel Hockaday also added a double-double of her own with 11 kills and 13 digs.
The Cyclones will play in the second round Saturday against sixth-seeded Minnesota (27-6) at 7 pm in the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.
