Three Big Takeaways: Cyclones fall to Witchita State in five sets

Cyclones+Maya+Duckworth%2C+Alexis+Engelbrecht+and+Morgan+Brandt+look+to+block+an+attack+against+Missouri.

Cyclones Maya Duckworth, Alexis Engelbrecht and Morgan Brandt look to block an attack against Missouri.

In its final match of the Rumble in the Rockies event, Iowa State fell to Wichita State in five sets. With the loss, the Cyclones currently possess a 1-2 record following their opening weekend.

While the offense kept Iowa State competitive throughout the match, defensive woes ultimately cost the Cyclones. Looking forward, Iowa State will aim to make further improvements to ease the loss of its veteran talent.

A flowing offense

The offense seemed to shine throughout the Rumble in the Rockies event. Against Wichita State, multiple offensive threats helped generate scoring runs, keeping Iowa State in sets where they fell to an early deficit.

The Cyclones fell behind 3-8 in the first set before a series of scoring runs put Iowa State back on top as the Cyclones took the first set with a score of 25-21. Iowa State dropped the second set 21-25 but secured set three in extra points after a late 5-0 scoring run.

A combination of seniors Eleanor Holthaus, Mariah Mitchell and Jaden Newsome led Iowa State’s potent offensive effort. Holthaus led the Cyclones with her 19 kills in the match followed by Mitchell who had 16 along with a .371 hitting percentage. Newsome was key in providing opportunities to score, earning 52 assists.

Throughout the preseason, Iowa State focused on creating several scoring avenues, an effort that has started to yield results. Junior Alexis Engelbrecht and freshman Maya Duckworth had 10 kills each, keeping the offense fresh and well-rounded.

The offense helped pull Iowa State out of a 0-6 deficit in the fourth set, tying the Shockers at 20 points. The Cyclones ultimately dropped the fourth set and were not able to find a rhythm in the fifth, losing 10-15 and ending the game 2-3.

Defensive improvement

Although the offense is strong, the defense has yet to come into its own. The loss of veterans Candelaria Herrera and Marija Popovic were felt, as Iowa State failed to fully shut down Wichita State’s attacking power.

The Shockers were able to consistently jump to early leads and left Iowa State to fight back from behind. It would take a monumental effort on the offensive end to work back into each set, resulting in close score lines which ultimately cost Iowa State the match.

The Cyclones lost the dig battle but had 15 blocks compared to Wichita State’s 12. When the Shockers were rolling, redshirt junior Brylee Kelly and junior Sophia Rohling were burying kills. The continuous multi-score runs were a challenge for Iowa State to deal with, and will be a focus of improvement in the weeks to come.

Where to go from here?
Although Iowa State came up short, the Cyclones have plenty to build on after the first few matches of the season. The offense was prolific throughout the weekend and the defense showed flashes of excellence. Putting together a consistent performance on both ends could take Iowa State to the next level.

Iowa State proved to be a more proficient offense than Wichita State when looking at the box score. The Cyclones led in attacks, kills and serving aces while only trailing the Shockers in hitting percentage. Consistent scoring runs displayed Iowa State’s ability to put points on the board when absolutely necessary.

Headed into the Tiger Challenge starting Sept. 2, the aim will be to improve Iowa State’s defensive capability. When preparing for the Rumble in the Rockies event, the focus was on the development of a young team, especially at the middle blocker and libero positions. Looking forward, that development may show as the season progresses.

Iowa State will be headed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the Tiger Challenge starting Sept. 2. The Cyclones will face Penn State and LSU Friday at noon and 7 p.m., followed by Troy at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.