SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Iowa State volleyball team put on a resilient display during its road trip to the West Coast, fighting through back-to-back four-set battles at the Thunderdome to improve to 4-1 on the season.
The Cyclones opened the invitational with a dramatic comeback victory over tournament host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday before outlasting Utah State in a Friday night thriller.
The Cyclones kicked off the action on Thursday by silencing a hostile crowd, bouncing back from an opening-set
loss to secure an 18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21 victory over UC Santa Barbara.
Iowa State’s offense was highly efficient against the Gauchos, hitting a blistering .320 as a team. Sophomore outside hitter Nayeli Gonzalez paced the attack with a match-high 18 kills, while junior Nayeli Ti’a was right behind her with 17 kills and nine digs. Junior opposite Lilly Wachholz was incredibly efficient, posting 12 kills with only two errors on 19 swings for a spectacular .526 hitting percentage.
Setter Ava Martin directed the offense beautifully with 42 assists, and freshman libero Rachel Van Gorp anchored the defense with 13 digs. Despite UCSB’s Sophia Wendlick and Gabi Martinez each registering 14 kills for the Gauchos, Iowa State’s late-set execution made the difference.
Iowa State carried that momentum into Friday night, overcoming a fierce defensive challenge from Utah State to grind out a 25-20, 17-25, 28-26, 25-23 victory.
Wachholz was once again a major focal point for the Cyclones, hammering down a team-high 18 kills while hitting an efficient .484. Ti’a contributed a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs, and middle blocker Daaliyah Kemp provided a huge offensive spark, converting six kills on a stellar .667 hitting percentage. Martin matched her Thursday performance with another 42 assists, while Van Gorp led the floor defense with 16 digs.
Utah State (0-4) proved to be a stubborn opponent, out-hitting the Cyclones .210 to .191. The Aggies were led by Sami Blackett’s match-high 19 kills and 12 digs, alongside 11 kills from Olivia Ruy.
The match ultimately turned on high-pressure moments late in the sets. A grueling third set featured 11 tie scores and only a single lead change before Iowa State pulled away, 28-26. The fourth set was equally tight, featuring 10 ties and five lead changes before the Cyclones clinched the match, 25-23, to sweep their trip to the Thunderdome.
Iowa State hosts Iowa at Hilton Coliseum for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
