After trailing by two sets, Iowa State was able to push the match to the fifth set, but was unable to complete the comeback attempt against Oregon State, losing 3-2.

Iowa State’s game against Oregon State marks its third of the Iowa State Challenge and the season. In its first matches, Iowa State defeated Ole Miss 3-0 and Virginia 3-1. 

Last season, Oregon State went 21-12 overall and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the fifth set to North Carolina State.

Entering this season, Oregon State was receiving votes in the preseason top 25 while Iowa State checks in at 21.

At the end of the first set, Iowa State had a 24-20 lead before the Gophers clawed their way back to win the set 27-25.

During the set, Oregon State notched 16 kills and a .231 hitting percentage and was anchored by Maddie Goings, who had seven kills and a .385 hitting percentage.

Iowa State recorded 17 kills and a .333 hitting percentage during the first set. Iowa State’s libero, Hali Hillegas, recorded eight digs during the first set and setter Piper Mauck had 12 assists. 

Both teams had three blocks in the first set.

In the second set, Oregon State took a 2-0 lead by taking the set 25-19.

Oregon State took the set with the help of 16 kills and a .237 hitting percentage compared to Iowa State’s 11 kills and .133 hitting percentage.

Iowa State’s Jess Schaben, a two-time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, had two kills and a .000 hitting percentage after the second set.

The Cyclones then took the third set, 26-24, behind four blocks as a team and 12 kills. The team had also notched a .139 hitting percentage which cut Oregon State’s lead to 2-1.

Oregon State had four blocks and 12 kills in the set, but a .103 hitting percentage.

Mauck added 12 more assists in the third set to push her game total to 32.

During the fourth set, Iowa State evened the match to 2-2 with a 25-18 score.

Mauck added 10 more assists as Iowa State finished the set with 15 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. 

As a team, Iowa State added four more blocks to Oregon State’s two.

Oregon State had 13 kills and a .114 hitting percentage during the fourth set.

In the fifth and final set, Iowa State fell 16-14. During that set, Iowa State had six kills and a .000 hitting percentage while Oregon State had eight kills and a .053 hitting percentage.

During that final set, it was Iowa State’s defense that kept them in the match with five blocks and 23 digs.

Iowa State will have off until Wednesday when the team will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for a matchup with Northern Iowa.