Three Big Takeaways: Iowa State steals road win over Oklahoma

Iowa State snapped its convention highway dropping streak with a 3-1 win over Oklahoma Saturday night time. The offense overwhelmed the Sooners, main Iowa State to an important victory in Norman. 

With the win, the volleyball squad has begun to work its means up the Large 12 rankings. Going winless on the highway has been detrimental to Iowa State, however an undefeated convention file at residence has stored the Cyclones in competition. 

Stealing a win on the highway opens the door for Iowa State to compete for a prime spot within the convention. 

A number of avenues of assault

A number of offensive gamers for Iowa State discovered success towards the Oklahoma protection. Senior Solei Thomas led the Cyclones with 16 kills, however senior Eleanor Holthaus and freshman Maya Duckworth additionally made main contributions. 

Holthaus – who had 12 kills – offered some early offensive firepower for the Cyclones. When Oklahoma adjusted, Duckworth and Thomas stored up the offensive manufacturing. Senior Annie Hatch, who has seen extra of the courtroom lately after getting back from an damage, was a kill shy of changing into Iowa State’s fourth participant to achieve double figures. 

Regardless of Holthaus’ success, Iowa State was unable to beat the Sooners in set one. Because the offense started to unfold out, the Cyclones rolled to 3 straight-set wins. 

Earlier within the season, shutting down Holthaus was the important thing to taking down Iowa State. As Thomas and Duckworth turn out to be an more and more extra harmful pair, Iowa State has the flexibility to depend on a number of assault choices. 

Nonetheless extra room to develop

Though Iowa State got here away with a win, the Cyclones are nonetheless exhibiting flashes of their youth. Minor errors and miscommunications value Iowa State factors, opening the door for Oklahoma to remain within the match. 

Service errors plagued Iowa State once more Saturday night time. The Cyclones had 13 in whole, generally halting momentum when the group was on a run. 

Ball management has been a weak spot for Iowa State this season, and has turn out to be a significant focus in observe. Service errors despatched the Cyclones again and poor passing generally put the surface hitters in precarious conditions. 

Clear ball management and restricted self-inflicted errors allowed the offense to work at its greatest. When Iowa State’s offense is at its best, the Cyclones have been in a position to compete with the perfect groups within the convention. 

First highway win

The win was Iowa State’s first highway victory towards a Large 12 opponent. Regardless of its undefeated residence file, Iowa State has struggled to realize convention wins on the highway.

Losses on the highway to Kansas State and TCU set the Cyclones again initially, however a flawless residence file stored the group within the convention title race. Now, with a 4-2 convention file together with a win over second-ranked Baylor, Iowa State has a possibility to work its means into the higher echelon of the Large 12.

After its win over Kansas, Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch stated the group was preventing for its life within the convention. Given the depth of the Large 12, profitable on the highway has been tough and Iowa State wanted each win it might get, she stated. 

Stealing a win on the highway provides the group some respiration room, and if Iowa State can keep its dominance at residence, the group can attain even larger heights.