VOLLEYBALL: Cyclones roll over Missouri

Matt Gubbels

The ISU volleyball team played less than stellar in their loss to Missouri in five sets in Columbia, but Saturday’s rematch at Hilton Coliseum took a totally different turn.

The Cyclones (14-8, 6-5 Big 12) got out of the gate fast, this time, and used the momentum from that quick start to roll to an easy 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-20) win over the Tigers (10-11, 4-7).

Iowa State was led once again in kills by Victoria Henson, with 15. She was joined in double figures by fellow outside hitter Rachel Hockaday, with 12, and middle blocker Jen Malcom, who added eight as well. Setter Kaylee Manns had a double-double with 32 assists and 15 digs and libero Ashley Mass had 16 digs.

The two teams both had seven blocks, but Iowa State’s clear passing advantage, with 58 digs to Missouri’s 45 gave, it a .256 to .098 advantage in hitting percentage. The Cyclones also had seven service aces to the Tigers’ two.

Missouri won the first two points of the match, but Iowa State came right back with a 6-0 run. The Tigers fought back to 12-11 but the Cyclones came right back with another 6-0 run and never let the Missouri get any closer than four the rest of the way in a big win in the opening set.

The Cyclones won the first three points of set two and ran out to a 12-5 lead, never looking back in an easy 25-15 win, which was capped by one of Henson’s eight kills in the set.

The third set was by and far the closest of the three sets, featuring eight ties and six lead changes. Iowa State held a 15-13 lead, when it went on a 6-1 run to stretch the lead to 21-14. Missouri was able to fight back to 23-20, but kills from Henson and Debbie Stadick iced the match.

The Cyclones return to the floor at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Baylor at Hilton Coliseum.