High expectations were shattered this weekend for the ISU volleyball team, which succumbed in three consecutive matches at the Results Advertising Missouri State Classic.

The Cyclones (6-2) entered the tournament on the heels of a promising win against intrastate rival Northern Iowa, but were unable to post more than one win over any foe in a game this weekend. A lack of presence at the net was a main factor in the demise of Iowa State’s hot streak.

Iowa State briskly began its first match of the tournament against Utah, capturing the win in a close 30-26 draw. A 20-16 Cyclone lead was closed to a tie at 21 by Utah, but a 9-5 run helped put the game away for Iowa State.

Utah roared back in game two, displaying its dominating offense at the net with a .333 hitting percentage. The Utes were able to hold off Iowa State and grasp a 30-28 win.

The Utes carried that offense into game three with a .268 hitting mark over Iowa State’s .105. Failing to penetrate Utah’s offense, the Cyclones were downed 30-27 in the third match, securing the Utes’ win.

“We knew coming down here that we would see three good teams,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson. “We saw some glimpses of good things out of our team but also some things that we need to work on.”

Despite the loss, junior libero Katie Churm posted a career-high 27 digs, one more than the mark she set last year in a match against Auburn. Katie Jessen notched her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs, while Nicole Lorenzen added 10 kills.

Utah had four players in double figures, led by Shelly Sommerfeldt with 19 kills.

Iowa State suffered a similar fate the next day when it squared off against Missouri State, who claimed a 3-1 victory that afternoon. The first game was taken by Iowa State in a 30-28 nipping, due in part to solid blocking at the net. Iowa State’s defense remained strong, and Churm tallied nine digs in the game alone.

Game two was a back-and-forth battle until a decisive kill by Lorenzen evened the game at 29. Missouri State fired back with a service ace to claim the 33-31 win.

The Bears continued their hitting barrage in games three and four, racking up percentages of .211 and .354, respectively. Iowa State slipped considerably in its last two efforts, falling to scores of 30-20 and 30-24. Lorenzen earned a double-double for the match, getting 12 kills and 11 digs. Churm kept her defensive streak alive with 19 digs, while senior setter Amanda Craig punched out 41 assists.

The last chance for Cyclone redemption fell flat as Iowa State could not overcome a fiery Arkansas team, which swept the Cyclones in three straight games (30-22, 30-25, 30-24).

Sophomore hitter Erin Boeve led the attack on Arkansas in the first game with seven kills, but it wasn’t enough to stop the fierce Razorbacks, who blasted out a .417 mark to Iowa State’s .188.

The second game found the Cyclones shuffling their feet at the net even more, ekeing out a meager .067 percentage in a game that was all Arkansas power. The third game was tied at 16 before a strong run by the Razorbacks left no doubt as to the outcome.

Boeve was the highlight for the low-hitting Cyclones, busting out 13 kills in the game. Craig sported a double-double in the loss with 27 assists and 10 digs. Denzita Koleve and Kele Brewer had 11 kills apiece for Arkansas.

– ISU media relations contributed to this article