IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa State volleyball team dropped its Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series meeting against Iowa 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 18-25, 26-28) Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The loss dropped ISU to 5-3 on the season, while Iowa improved to 5-3.
The win, Iowa’s first over ISU since 1997, gives the Hawkeyes a 4-0 lead in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series heading into tomorrow’s football game at Jack Trice Stadium.
Alexis Conaway led Iowa State with 12 kills at a career-best .632 hitting percentage. Caitlin Nolan recorded 16 digs.
Schaben, Capezio Guide the Way in the First
The first set started out fairly evenly as the two teams traded kills, attack errors, blocks and aces at a fairly even rate. It was the Cyclones who got the first separation, running off six-straight points which included a quintet of Jess Schaben kills to move ahead 19-13.
That was more than enough of a gap for the Cyclones, who continued to get production from Ciara Capezio, who finished the first set with four kills. Capezio teamed up with Samara West for a block to bring up set point, which was converted two points later via an Ashley Mariani service error to give ISU the set 25-17.
Iowa Offense Dominates in Second Set
The Hawkeyes were ready from the start in the second, and were outstanding offensively. UI converted six of its first 12 swings into kills, helping build an 11-6 advantage. The Cyclones struggled to fight their way back into the frame, as Iowa continued its strong attack to build a lead of as many as eight points on multiple occasions. Iowa brought up set point at 24-16, and though ISU was able to fight off one set point, the Hawkeyes took the frame on a Jess Janota kill to take the second 25-17 and tie the match.
Hawkeyes Offensive Dominance Continues
The Cyclones were hindered by another slow start in the third set, as the Hawkeyes blitzed out to an 8-3 advantage. The Cyclone offense struggled to produce, only getting one kill in its first 11 swings. The Cyclones were able to work their way back a little, reducing the Hawkeye lead to two on multiple occasions. However, Iowa worked up its largest lead of the set to 16-10 on back-to-back Janota kills.
There was no path back for the Cyclones as the offense continued to struggle, while the Hawkeyes surged to a hitting percentage of .500 for the frame. Iowa brought up its set point at 24-17, and were able to clinch the set on the second try via a Lauren Brobst kill to take the set 25-18, and the lead in the match.
Iowa Outlasts Cyclones, Takes Match
The fourth set started out about as even as possible. Iowa got out to a 4-2 lead, but ISU quickly bounced back to tie it up at 4-4. The two teams would alternate scoring on the next 16 points, before ISU finally strung together consecutive-points to get its first lead of more than one in the set at 13-11. Iowa did not waste much time tying it back up at 15-15, with Reagan Davey and Janota posting consecutive kills to even up proceedings. Iowa would move back ahead the next point when Monique Harris fired a set past Schaben.
There continued to be little to separate the teams, with the help of Alexis Conaway and Grace Lazard, Iowa State was able to keep up with the on-fire duo of Janota and Brobst for Iowa. Iowa State finally got back to a two-point advantage with a Capezio kill to make it 21-19. Conaway would get another kill to give ISU a crucial three-point edge at 22-19.
The Hawkeyes continued to battle, getting back-to-back kills from Mikaela Gunderson and Mariani to reduce the ISU lead to 23-22. Conaway got her 12th kill to bring up set point, but Iowa was able to tie it again at 24s via a Mariani kill and a bad set by Harris. A Mariani and Janota block of Schaben brought up Iowa’s first match point. ISU would battle off two match points, but Iowa got it on the third try as Brobst fired the match-winning kill.
After two events (soccer, volleyball) in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, Iowa leads 4-0 heading into tomorrow’s football game.
