Iowa State split a pair of Big 12 road matches in Arizona over the weekend, rebounding from an early set deficit to defeat Arizona in four sets on Friday before falling to No. 12 Arizona State in four sets on Sunday.
In Friday’s match against the Wildcats, the Cyclones (9-5, 3-0 Big 12) needed four sets to win against the Wildcats (19-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-10) at the McKale Center.
Nayeli Gonzalez recorded a match-high 16 kills for Iowa State, while Nayeli Ti’a posted a double-double with 11 kills and
17 digs. D’Aaliyah Kemp added an errorless 10 kills on 15 swings for a .667 hitting percentage.
After dropping the opening set 25-19, Iowa State erased a 9-8 deficit in the second set with a 6-0 run to take a 20-13 lead. Ti’a capped the 25-20 set win with a kill.
Iowa State then opened the fourth set on an 11-2 run, highlighted by consecutive aces from both Ti’a and Rachel Van Gorp, while holding Arizona to 10 points and hitting .412 in a 25-10 finish. Freshman setter Ella Florez contributed 23 assists and 11 digs, Van Gorp matched Ti’a with 17 digs, and McCune finished with a match-high five blocks.
No. 12 Arizona State (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) handed Iowa State (9-6, 3-1 Big 12) its first conference loss, winning 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-14.
Gonzalez tallied 12 kills, her sixth consecutive match in double figures. Reserve attacker Mesaiya Bettis provided an offensive boost off the bench, converting her first eight swings without an error and finishing with nine kills on 10 attempts (.900). Van Gorp led all players with 15 digs.
The Sun Devils took the first two sets by identical 25-18 scores, outhitting Iowa State .270 to .062 in the second frame. Iowa State extended the match in the third set, getting late kills from Gonzalez and McCune before McCune finished off a 25-22 set victory.
Arizona State responded by opening a 15-6 lead in the fourth set while holding Iowa State to a negative hitting percentage to close out the match 25-14.
Iowa State returns home Friday to host Kansas State at 6:30 p.m.
