Cyclones snap losing streak

Matt Gubbels

The ISU volleyball team dominated nearly every facet of their match with Oklahoma Saturday, winning 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-14).

Victoria Henson led the Cyclones (10-7, 2-4 Big 12) with 13 kills. Kelsey Petersen also reached double figures in kills for the first time in her career with 10 and had five block assists. Jen Malcom and Rachel Hockaday both had nine and Diane Kieger finished with seven.

Kaylee Manns ended up with 43 assists and nine digs and Ashley Mass extended her double-digit digs streak to 43 with 15.

The Cyclones outhit the Sooners (7-8, 3-4 Big 12) .396-.086, partially thanks to a 51-27 advantage in digs and a 9-6 advantage in blocks.

“These wins are key for us,” coach Christy Johnson said. “We’re really good when we’re clicking — can we get that happening every night? That is the challenge.”

The Cyclones used four early blocks in set one to run out to a 12-4 lead. After that, Iowa State steadily increased their lead and Petersen finished the set with a kill. Henson led an efficient Cyclone attack that hit .516 in the first set with six kills.

Set two was a back-and-forth affair with no team leading by any more than three points at any juncture. Iowa State had a set point at 24-23, but a service error derailed it. Malcom bounced right back with a kill, however, and Caitlin Mahoney finished a 26-24 victory with a service ace that dropped just onto the back line.

The Cyclones jumped out to a 14-7 lead in set three, showcasing the same balance they had from the start with four players putting down kills. They continued to stretch the lead and Debbie Stadick ended a long rally and the match 25-14.