Coming off of their first conference victory of the season, the Cyclone volleyball team was largely unsuccessful last weekend during a road trip through Texas, losing two matches in two days.

On Friday night, the Cyclones tangled with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, falling in four games, an improvement on the three-game loss the Cyclones suffered at home earlier in the season.

After being beaten handily in their first two games, 15-0 and 15-3, Coach Kerry Miller’s Cyclones bounced back to take the third game, 15-12. It was only the second time this season that Iowa State has taken a game from a conference opponent.

Texas Tech went on to win the match in the fourth game by a score of 15-6.

The Cyclone defense was much improved from earlier in the season, producing 14 blocks and 49 digs and holding Texas Tech to a .240 attack percentage.

Iowa State’s offense, however, struggled on the night, hitting only .073 from the floor and scoring an average of only six points per game.

Senior Mandy Middleton, who has seen increased action in recent weeks, led the Cyclone defense, turning in 10 digs and seven blocks.

Stacy Nicks added eight digs and eight blocks, as well as nine kills and the top Cyclone hitting average, at .300.

Senior Virginia Hoss again led the Cyclone scoring with 10 kills. Hoss also had five digs and six blocks on the night.

Tanisha Woods, a freshman who has seen little action so far this season, responded to extensive playing time with nine kills and seven digs.

Senior Julie McGrath led Iowa State with 39 assists on the night.

In Saturday’s match, the Cyclones were unable to overcome the heavy .347 hitting of a tough Baylor club, losing in three games, 15-5, 15-7 and 15-4.

Hoss and freshman Nanette Allen were the only Cyclones able to muster any offense against the Bears, each turning in 11 kills.

Defensively, Iowa State slipped back a step, managing only 27 digs and four blocks and allowing Baylor the inflated attack percentage. The Cyclones also failed to contain Baylor standout Elish Polk, who recorded 23 kills and a .463 hitting average.

McGrath again handled the setting for the Cyclones, contributing 32 assists, and Lindsay Robinson led the defense with eight digs.

Iowa State returns home for the first time since October 9 this weekend as they play host to the Colorado Buffaloes on Friday and the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday.