Sunday’s ISU volleyball match against Texas was a record-setting one.

Iowa State snapped a five-match losing streak by beating the Longhorns 3-1. It was also the Cyclones’ first win ever over Texas in volleyball.

Sophomore middle blocker Katie Kruenegel had a career-high 17 kills. Teammates Brittany Dalager, Lindsey Chapman and Katie Churm each set individual records, as the Cyclones improved their record to 3-10 in the Big 12 conference and 11-13 overall.

“This was something the kids have been working hard for all season,” head coach Linda Crum said. “They did not stop believing in themselves, and they stuck to their goals.

“In Game 1, we were flat, and had some serving errors, and also didn’t take advantage of some opportunities.”

Texas beat the Cyclones in the first game 30-26 after a battle that saw the score tied four times and the lead change hands three times. Senior outside hitter Renae Pruess led the attack for the Cyclones with six kills, and Kruenegel had five. Chapman had 12 sets, and Churm had three digs.

Game 2 was the turning point of the match for Iowa State.

“I told the kids they’d have to step up and be consistent,” Crum said. “We told them, ‘This is your game.'”

The Cyclones took the second game 30-27, this time with Kruenegel getting nine kills to lead the attack and Pruess adding eight kills to the offensive effort. This game saw 12 ties and six lead changes. Pruess helped put the game away for the Cyclones with two key kills to give Iowa State a 29-27 lead. Sophomore middle blocker Ashlie McWee got the final kill to give the Cyclones a 30-27 win to tie the match at 1-1.

“After Game 1, the coaches were encouraging us to stay calm, keep reading the hitters and play defense,” Kruenegel said. “The end of the second game was the turning point for us. We just pulled it all together and it was definitely the momentum changer.”

The third game was a another close one, with the lead going back and forth seven times, and the score tied 10 times. The Cyclones got five kills each from Kruenegel, McWee and Dalager, while Chapman had 14 sets and Churm added five digs as Iowa State took game three 32-30. With the score tied at 29-29, McWee got two key kills and a block to give the Cyclones the win and a 2-1 match lead. Iowa State had 19 kills in that game, while the Longhorns had 22.

Texas led most of the way in the fourth game. With the score at 27-24 in favor of Texas, the Cyclones went to work with a big rally. Kruenegel had a kill and a serving ace to help tie the score at 27. Pruess got a key block to give the Cyclones a 28-27 lead. Texas battled back to tie the game at 29. Dalager made a save to keep the ball in play as the Cyclones took a 30-29 lead. McWee sealed the game and the match for Iowa State as she made a block to give the win 31-29, and the match 3-1.

“Getting the game winning point, there’s just no words to describe it,” McWee said. “I knew when we were down 27-24 in game three that I would have to pick up my blocking. It’s a great feeling to win this one; it was a fun match to play and watch. There’s no looking back for us. We have just a few more matches left, and our confidence level will get a big boost from this win over Texas.”

Besides Kruenegel’s career high of 17 kills, Chapman had a career high of seven kills in the match, and also had a season high of 54 sets. Defensively, Dalager had a season-high 23 digs, while Churm had a career-high 11 digs.

Kruenegel said she was happy with her accomplishment.

“I set down some goals, and with all the hard work I’ve put in, it paid off.” she said. “Everyone contributed to the effort. Texas just stuck with us today, and both teams came out battling back and forth. We prevailed in the end.”

Crum had a lot of praise for Kruenegel’s effort.

“She did a good job, and Lindsey did a good job in setting the ball today,” she said. “We were ball handling well, and Katie got the kills.”

Iowa State will take to the road for their next two matches. On Wednesday, the Cyclones travel to Kansas State for a 7 p.m. match, and on Saturday the team will be at Baylor for a 6 p.m. contest.