ISU Takes No. 12 ASU to Four Sets

Sunday, October 4

Tempe, Ariz.

4:00 PM

Iowa State

9-6,3-1Big 12

Arizona State

11-3,2-1Big 12

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Iowa St.	18	18	25	14	1
Arizona St.	25	25	22	25	3

10.04.2026 | Volleyball

Box Score Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. – Iowa State (9-6, 3-1 Big 12) dropped its first Big 12 match to the defending Big 12 Champions No. 12 Arizona State (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) in four sets by scores of 18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 14-25 Sunday.

After going down two sets to none, Iowa State fought back to win the third and keep the match going. The Sun Devils responded commanding the fourth to take the win.

Nayeli Gonzalez had her sixth match in a row with double figure kills, ending the night with 12. Mesaiya Bettis hit her first eight kills without a miss, and totaled an errorless nine kills on 10 swings in the match.

Rachel Van Gorp led the match with 15 digs, while Nayeli Ti'a joined Van Gorp with 10-plus digs.

SET ONE

A kill by freshman Macie Lupkes followed by an ASU attack error brought ISU within two of the host to start at 6-4. After a score of 7-5, Arizona State went on to build a lead of five (13-8) and Iowa State called its first timeout. The Sun Devils' advantage grew to double digits at 20-10, but after three Cyclone kills and a block ASU called for a timeout. Arizona State would regroup, going on to take the opener 25-18.

SET TWO

Alea Goolsby had kill No. 3 to tie things early at 2s, but after a 3-3 tie the Sun Devils built a lead to 8-3 and caused an ISU timeout. ASU had two kills following a block put up by Gonzalez and Taylor Johnson to reach the media timeout up 15-8, but after the break ISU took the next four points (15-12). After the home team called a timeout, Ti'a continued her service run and served an ace. Gonzalez and Bettis went back-to-back to then come within two at 18-16, and a Ti'a kill again made it a two-point set (20-18) deep in the frame. ASU took over from there, outhitting the Cyclones .270-.062.

SET THREE
Johnson's first career kill kept ASU scoreless at 2-0, while Bettis remained perfect hitting her fourth kill to make it 3-1. After Ti'a slammed down a kill ISU would remain ahead at 7-3, but ASU came back to tie it at 8s and 9s. Another Ti'a kill followed by an ace kept ISU up, while Gonzalez kept the run going and caused a timeout by ASU. Bettis remained hot with her fifth kill on as many swings (13-10), and the Cyclones pushed on to reach the media timeout ahead 15-13 on a Pam McCune kill. McCune and Ava Martin teamed up on a big block to make it 17-13, while a successful ISU challenge came next. Arizona State answered coming back within one before Iowa State took a timeout and ties at 19s, 20s and 21s came next. Gonzalez and McCune went back-to-back to not let the lead slip away, and Van Gorp put over an ace to reach set point. ASU scored next, but a McCune kill forced a fourth as ISU won 25-22.

SET FOUR

Still remaining hitting perfect, Bettis had her sixth kill to put the scoreboard at 4-2, ASU. Bettis then had her seventh to put things at 5-3. Arizona State reached 10 with ISU holding 6, and held the lead at the media timeout of 15-6. Bettis had her eighth kill without a miss, but Iowa State as a team was held to a negative hitting percentage as ASU led 19-8. That kill would spark a run of four, with Arizona State calling a timeout at 19-11. The Sun Devils kept with the lead, taking the match with a set score of 25-14.

Next up

Iowa State returns home next Friday, Oct. 9 to host Kansas State at 6:30 p.m.