A three-match winning streak for the ISU volleyball team was abruptly halted Saturday night on a trip to Manhattan, Kan.

The Cyclones fell to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12 as No. 20 Kansas State tore down the ISU defense and took the Cyclones in three straight games. The Wildcats improved to 14-3 and 5-2 in the conference. The last time the Cyclones defeated Kansas State was in the Big 8 in 1995 under then-coach Jackie Nunez.

“We always learn something when we lose, and we need to learn to perform better on the road,” said coach Christy Johnson. “It was a reality check for us tonight.”

Iowa State, who was second in the conference in blocking, saw the highlight of its defense overshadowed as the Wildcats outblocked them 10.5 to 4. It was only the fifth time during the season that an opponent has trumped the Cyclones’ blocking game.

Johnson said the team was off the mark from the initial plays.

“We just never got into the rhythm of our serving and passing game,” she said. “We fought hard all night, but they are a legit top-25 team.”

Though Iowa State outhit the Wildcats .341 to .318 in the first game, Kansas State managed to squeak in the first win of the night with a score of 30-27.

Kansas State’s Agata Rezende and Jenny Jantsch were too much for the Cyclones to overcome in the second match. Jantsch ripped three kills for a 12-8 lead over the Cyclones, enough motivation for the team to keep the game under its wraps.

The Wildcats kept a steady lead and took the 30-19 win, aided by a .382 team hitting percentage.

“I think we could have been into the game a little more,” Johnson said. “We were a little slow to the ball, as were our reactions. We weren’t celebrating as much after our good plays.”

The third game approached with an opposite finale than Iowa State has recently been experiencing. The Cyclones were on the losing end of a could-be sweep, and host Kansas State wanted to keep the win on their court.

The Wildcats did just that, busting out a five-point lead before Iowa State muscled its way to a tie at point 19. The home court advantage was too strong as Kansas State championed the next 11 of 15 points for the 30-23 victory.

“There may have been some intimidation, especially at such a hard place to play,” Johnson said. “But even if we’re in an opponent’s gym, we have to learn how to respond to that.”

Kansas State’s Megan Farr had a memorable match by garnering a career-high 12 kills and a .450 hitting mark. Rezende followed suit with 11 kills, and Sandy Werner also accrued double-digits with 10.

Iowa State’s lackluster blocking game was its lowest of the season. Katie Churm was a bright spot in the struggling defense with 16 digs. Erin Boeve and Nicole Lorenzen each nabbed 11 kills.

Johnson said though her team feels good competing against the lower teams the Big 12, they need to learn to how to handle the more powerful teams as well.

“It’s a new level of volleyball, and they will just eat you up if you can’t show them any confidence,” she said.