Iowa State still has a losing record in the Big 12.

After an 0-2 start in conference play, the ISU volleyball team (10-7, 2-4 Big 12) was attempting to compile a third straight win on Oct. 18 versus Texas Tech, including two consecutive conference wins to pull to even in the Big 12 standings.

Instead, Iowa State was downed by Texas Tech (15-4, 3-4 Big 12) in five sets, 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 30-28, 15-12.

It was another slow start for the Cyclones, something junior libero Caitlin Nolan has lamented as a serious concern for the team in recent weeks, saying that Iowa State simply needed to do a better job of opening matches with intensity.

A rare 10:00 a.m. start may have hindered the Cyclones in that regard after traveling to Texas for the third time in 21 days, but whatever role fatigue played was erased in the second stanza.

After dropping the opening set, Iowa State reeled off two set victories in a row on the strength of its high powered offense, which ranks first in the Big 12 this year in kills.

The fourth set was tight from the first serve as Texas Tech needed five extra points to close the door on the unrelenting ISU squad, 30-28.

The Red Raiders ultimately took set four, evening the match at 2-2 and pushing the Cyclones to a fifth set. It was only the second five-set match in which Iowa State has participated all season.

Texas Tech jumped on Iowa State early in the truncated fifth, grabbing an 8-4 lead.

The Cyclones were able to rally in the deciding game to make it competitive and even took a lead late, but were unable to retain their advantage in the waning points of the match.

The Red Raiders captured set five 15-12, sending the Cyclones back to Ames empty handed and still searching for answers.

Iowa State will rest up for the next three days before taking the court at Hilton Coliseum on Oct. 22 against Kansas. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.