Iowa State sweeps Omaha to open the second day of the Cyclone Invitational

Then sophomore outside hitter Josie Herbst Spikes the ball during the second set against Omaha on Aug. 26, 2017. 

Garrett Kroeger

After sweeping Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday night, the Iowa State volleyball returned to Hilton Coliseum Saturday to take on the Omaha Mavericks.

In the second game of the Cyclone Invitational, the Cyclones swept the Mavericks. However, Iowa State did it face a challenge from Omaha (25-8, 25-21 and 25-23).

In the first set, the Cyclones scored the first five points before the Mavericks got onto the scoreboard.

Omaha would eventually cut Iowa State’s lead in half (10-5) during one point in the match. Once the score became 12-7 Cyclones, it was all Cardinal and Gold from there.

After that point, Iowa State would reel off nine straight points to make it 21-7. Outside hitter Josie Herbst, who made her first as a Cyclone, ended the first set with a thundering kill. Also in the first set, Alexis Conaway was a perfect 5-for-5 on attacks.

The second set was a lot more competitive. In fact, at times, it looked like Iowa State was going to lose the set.

For most of the set, it was a back-and-forth matchup between the two teams. During one point in the set, it seemed like Iowa State was about to run Omaha out of the building, going up 12-9. However, the Mavericks battled back and tied it at 12 apiece.

Later on the match, Omaha claimed its first lead of the match, going up 19-18. But once it hit 21-21, Iowa State reeled off four straight points to take the set.

Just like the second set, the Cyclones faced adversity. But there was slightly a little more in the third set.

For the first time in the match, Iowa State was in a hole. Omaha built a four point lead early in the set, 11-7.

Every time it seemed like the Cyclones were about build some momentum, the Mavericks would somehow stall it. That is until the set was 22-20, Omaha.

Hannah Bailey claimed a point to get the Cyclones within one of the Mavericks. Then a hitting error by Omaha would tie the game up at 22 apiece.

Then, Herbst would strike with a kill in the right hand corner to give Iowa State its first lead since 4-3. However, Omaha would tie it back at 23-23. It seemed like the Mavericks would regain the lead, but after a challenge by head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, Cyclones regained the lead 24-23.

Iowa State would finish off the match with a Genesis Miranda kill.

The Cyclones finished the match with 45 kills, two aces and seven blocks.

Iowa State will wrap up the Cyclone Invitational later Saturday night against New Mexico at 6:30 p.m.