ISU Loses Heartbreaker to No. 17 Utah, 3-2

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (10-17, 4-12 Big 12) lost a heartbreaker to No. 17 Utah (24-5, 14-4 Big 12) in five sets by scores of 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 12-15. Iowa State gave Utah its best shot, who is third in the Big 12 standings and extends its win streak to seven.

Iowa State hit at .355 in the opening frame, ending the set on a run of 10 to win it 25-19. ISU again hit over .300 in the second, but fell by a narrow margin of 25-23 as Utah tied up the match. Iowa State took the third 25-18 to go back in front hitting at .371 in the set, but Utah took the next to force a fifth. After falling behind in the fifth 8-3, the Cyclones came back within one (13-12) but lost the battle.

Maya Duckworth hit her first nine kills without an error on .818 hitting, and put up an elite game with a career high tying 23 kills at .327 hitting. Duckworth also had seven digs and two blocks as the junior kept ISU in it with No. 17 Utah.

Pam McCune showed her defense with a career-high five solo blocks, also sending over eight kills at a .389 clip.

Brooke Stonestreet also was critical on defense, notching 21 digs for her 27^th career match and ninth this season with 20 or more.

Lilly Wachholz and Faith DeRonde also had double-figure kills with 10 apiece as both had their second straight game with 10-plus. Wachholz led the match with a career-high tying three aces.

SET ONE

ISU began up 3-1 after kills by Rachel Van Gorp and DeRonde, while Utah went on to take its first lead at 5-4. Wachholz was dominant putting down her fourth kill on as many swings to put Iowa State ahead 9-7, but Utah followed to again flip the lead at 12-11. Duckworth hit back-to-back kills to halt a 4-0 Ute run (18-15), while her third on three swings brought Iowa State back within one at 19-18. Two aces by Wachholz took ISU ahead at 22-19, while the run extended to 10 straight to win the set 25-19 after Duckworth went back-to-back once again.

SET TWO

Duckworth put the first point of the set on the board and remained nailing down kills with her eighth on eight attempts to make it 3-2, ISU. Brandt served to two straight aces, while McCune put up a huge wall to make it 10-7 with Iowa State out front. Utah responded with a 5-0 run to take a 12-10 lead and cause an ISU timeout. The Cyclones tied it back up at 17s after a block by Tierney Jackson and DeRonde. At 23-20 with Utah ahead, Iowa State would come back within a point at 24-23 but Utah took the next point for the set at 25-23.

SET THREE

Iowa State ran ahead 7-3, but Utah brought the lead back within reach tying it at 11s. A no-doubt kill by Wachholz kept the lead with ISU while the set kept tight to follow. Brandt sent over her third setter kill at 13-12, while Iowa State followed with a run of six to go up 19-14 after Duckworth's 17^th kill. McCune had her fourth solo block to bring ISU to set point at 24-17, and the set would be sealed in the Cyclones' favor at 25-18 on a McCune kill.

SET FOUR

McCune did not let up on putting up walls as the sophomore had her fifth solo block to make the scoreboard read 5-1 with ISU ahead. Iowa State continued to lead at 9-6 as Duckworth delivered kill No. 20, while Duckworth followed with another right after. The Utes would knot the score back up at 11s and took the lead at 13-12, following to go up 16-14. DeRonde halted the Ute run with a kill and put down another as the set again was brought to a tie. Utah answered with a late scoring run to lead it 23-19 for an ISU timeout, and the visitors would force a fifth, 25-21.

SET FIVE

After two unsuccessful Iowa State challenges, Utah would run ahead 4-1. ISU lost a third challenge as the score remained 5-2, and the teams would switch sides as Utah led 8-3. Iowa State came within a pair at 9-7 after a kill and ace by Wachholz and a kill by DeRonde as the pair entered double figures. ISU won a long rally after a McCune kill, and after an unsuccessful Utah challenge Iowa State came within one at 13-12. Utah would take the next two to pull off the victory at 15-12.

UP NEXT

ISU closes the 2024 season against No. 11 Kansas this Friday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. All football vs. K-State ticket holders can receive a complimentary volleyball ticket at the Hilton Ticket Office.

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Team Stats

Maya Duckworth

Lilly Wachholz

Faith DeRonde

Pam McCune

Players Mentioned

Faith DeRonde

Maya Duckworth

Tierney Jackson

Pam McCune

Brooke Stonestreet

Rachel Van Gorp

Lilly Wachholz

Players Mentioned

Faith DeRonde

Maya Duckworth

Tierney Jackson

Pam McCune

Brooke Stonestreet

Rachel Van Gorp

Lilly Wachholz

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