Volleyball takes season opener against Illinois State

Travis Cordes –

The ISU volleyball team got on track right away to open the 2008 season, taking down 2007 NCAA qualifier Illinois State in Milwaukee by a score of 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21).

Iowa State’s Victoria Henson led all players with 17 kills in this morning’s match, while Jen Malcom and Rachel Hockaday each chipped in 11 kills and Mary Bisenius added 10.

Sophomore libero Ashley Mass picked up right where she left off at the end of last season, adding another match to her school-record streak of consecutive matches with double-digit digs. The streak now stands at 27, dating back to a 3-1 victory over LSU on Sept. 7, 2007. Malcom also contributed on the defensive side of the ball, leading all players with 6 blocks.

Setter Kaylee Manns recorded the 35th double-double of her Cyclone career, picking up 49 set assists and 11 digs.

This marks the first of two games on Friday for the Cyclones, who will continue play in the UW-Milwaukee Panther Invitational against host UW-Milwaukee Friday at 7:30 p.m.