For every good offensive attack the ISU volleyball team took on Wednesday night, it seemed that UNI had an equally impressive defensive play to match it.

The Panther defense was a human pinball machine for most of the match, as they made several made line drive passes spanning the width of the court before somehow managing to return the ball over the net. UNI (7-0) hustled and grinded their way to a 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19) victory, the program’s first over the Cyclones since October 2004.

“They really came to play tonight,” said coach Christy Johnson. “They scrapped, they dove, they stuck an arm out and really did everything they could to keep the ball alive.”

The Cyclones (5-3) were dominated in the block column, as the Panthers rejected the ball 16 times, while the Cyclones only came up with four. A large part of the troubles the Cyclones experienced on offense were due to a lack of consistent serving and passing, the cornerstones to developing an efficient attack.

“We were able to get the ball up, but we were passing it six, seven, or eight feet off the net,” Johnson said. “And they were passing it really well all night. I don’t care who you’re playing, but when you lose that battle it’s hard to win the match.”

After trailing 9-5 early in set one, the Panthers took advantage of their scrappy defensive play and took control with a 9-0 run. They continued to lead to a score of 19-17, until the Cyclones strung together a late rally. Iowa State ripped down four kills in the next five points and held on to take the first set 25-22.

But after taking a match lead, it all started to fall apart for the Cyclones, who hit just .188 to UNI’s .320 in the final three sets of the match. No matter where the Cyclones tried to go for an attack, they still managed to swing straight into the wall on the other side of the net. Despite having limited options on every point, the Cyclones kept trying to make the Panther block give with no success.

“There were sometimes when I didn’t have a choice but to go to our outside hitter, and there was already two blocks waiting there,” said setter Kaylee Manns. “There’s really not a lot you can do, except have confidence in your hitter and put the ball in the best place I can.”

Redshirt sophomore Victoria Henson paved the way for the Cyclones with a career-setting night, slamming a career and match high 27 kills to the floor on just 43 attempts for a .372 hitting percentage. Freshman Rachel Hockaday and senior Jen Malcom also reached double figures with 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Three Panthers also hit in double figures, leading UNI to a .323 match hitting percentage.

The loss was the first to an in-state opponent for Iowa State since Johnson began coaching in 2005, but the Cyclones know they have to keep their heads on straight with Iowa and Drake coming to town this weekend.

“It may be frustrating, but you can’t let it get to you,” Malcom said. “You have to keep swinging away until things start to go through and keep your mentality for the team’s sake. And if things don’t go well you need to shake it off and get ready for the next one.”