The ISU volleyball team started off slow, but big plays in the end led to the team’s first five-set win of the season.

Iowa State served No. 13 Kansas State an upset Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum.

After losing the first set of the game 25-20, the Cyclones bounced back in the second set to come up with a dominating 25-14 win over the Wildcats. The momentum seemed to shift from set to set as Iowa State lost in set three 25-13.

The fourth set of the game was huge for Iowa State, who won 25-21 and carried that confidence into the fifth set to take the victory, 15-8.

As a team, Iowa State hit .299 while Kansas State ended with .250 attacking percentage. The Cyclones ended with 64 kills to the Wildcats’ 60.

Victoria Henson led the team in kills with 16.

“Victoria really stepped it up. She just swung high and aggressively, and never really let up.” head coach Christy Johnson said.

Rachel Hockaday finished the night with a double-double in kills and digs with 15 each. The 15 digs was a career high.

“She hit against a big right side a lot of rotations. She did a good job of using the block and had smart shots,” Johnson said.

The Cyclones were able to shut down the competition with blocking by coming up with seven blocks to Kansas State’s 6.5. In the last four sets of the game, the Wildcats only came up with two blocks. 

“It was about time that we came up with some big blocks and finally got them to go down,” said middle blocker Jen Malcom. “We just worked hard and stuck with it.”

Malcom ended the night with one solo block and three block assists.

Kelsey Petersen helped out the Cyclones with two block assists of her own.

“Kelsey can be a dominant blocker at times,” Johnson said. “She can be a wall out there.”

Kansas State’s Megan Farr, third in the Big 12 in hitting percentage, suffered against the Cyclones with a .062 percentage on the night.

The Cyclones come off this match and go into a matchup against Missouri on Saturday.

“To win a five-game match, it’s almost like the curse is broken, so we can take that momentum and use it for a win on Saturday,” said freshman outside hitter Rachel Hockaday.

Iowa State, now 13-8 and 5-5 in the Big 12, hopes for another big win over the Missouri Tigers in Ames this weekend. With a huge win over the Wildcats, the Cyclones can center this momentum toward another victory and continue the winning streak.

“It’s really important getting a solid win this match to really boost us into the next game. Coming off a win is always a confidence booster,” setter Kaylee Manns said.