MADISON, Wis. – If someone were to look at the box score of Iowa State’s first round match of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament vs. No.16 San Diego, depicting a winner by statistics alone would be nearly impossible.

The fact that each team had similar numbers in digs, assists, blocks, and identical hitting percentages were a clear indication that the match was nothing short of a heart stopper.

But two hours and 24 minutes after first serve, the Cyclones (18-13) outlasted the Toreros (21-8) 3-2 in a five-game thriller (25-30, 31-29, 30-19, 24-30, 16-14) at the UW Field House in Madison, Wis.

“That was a great match with two great teams, with neither one letting go,” said Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson. “Sometimes you think that if you keep at it, eventually one team will let go, but that didn’t happen tonight.”

This was the Cyclones’ third straight match against a ranked team, after they lost to No. 3 Texas and defeated No. 21 Oklahoma to round out the regular season last week. Friday marked the first time in school history that an ISU volleyball team defeated ranked teams in consecutive matches.

“It feels like we have been in this so many times in the last couple of weeks,” said Johnson. “We’ve had to win some tough five-gamers and had some losses too, but I feel like our team is really learning how to play in those tight four and five game matches.”

Despite her struggles throughout the match, Iowa State was able to rely on their All-American middle blocker Erin Boeve when it came down to crunch time in the final stages of game five.

“They were really committing to our middles early, so we went away from them for a while,” said Johnson. “Then we decided to use them as decoys. And if you do that long enough their block goes on the other hitters, and that leaves your middle open.”

Boeve had a block and three of her ten kills in the last ten points of the deciding game five, with the block and two kills coming in three consecutive points after the Cyclones trailed 13-11.

“I could definitely tell that the middle was a lot more open in game five than in the first couple of games,” said Boeve. “So it was really nice to see that opening and be able to take advantage of it.”

While the Cyclones are back for their second tournament experience in as many seasons, it was the play of two freshmen that highlighted the victory.

Redshirt freshman Victoria Henson tied for the team lead with 18 kills and hit .319 in one of her best performances of the season, while Rachel Williams came off the bench in game two to tally two kills and a crucial block in the Cyclones’ comeback during a 15-5 run to end the game.

“Henson just stepped up huge for them,” said San Diego coach Jennifer Petrie. “We couldn’t find a way to contain her all night.”

Junior Jen Malcom also had a career night for the Cyclones, tallying 13 kills and setting a school record for block assists in a match with 13, the last of which she teamed up with Williams for the match-ending point.

Iowa State has now advanced to the second round in each of its three tournament appearances in school history, and for the second time in a row will face the Wisconsin Badgers on their home floor.

The Cyclones are eager to play for a shot at advancing to in the round of 16 for the first time in school history.

“Winning in five gives us a lot of confidence,” said senior right side hitter Lauren Cummings, who was tied for the team lead in kills with Henson at 18. “I think tonight really helped us solidify the fact that we’re here and we’re making a name for ourselves. We’re excited to get a shot at Wisconsin tomorrow night.”