IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa State (9-3) was able to rally back and take the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series match over Iowa (6-4) 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 15-10) Saturday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win, the first five-setter in the series since 2012, also gave the Cyclones the Cy-Hawk Series Tournament title, wrapping up a 3-0 weekend in Iowa City.

Iowa State cut Iowa’s lead in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series 5-2 for 2019-20.

Leading the way in victory was Cy-Hawk Series Tournament MVP Eleanor Holthaus, who notched 19 kills at .395 hitting, five digs and three blocks and assists. Avery Rhodes, also a member of the All-Tournament Team, posted a career-high 13 kills at .440 hitting, and three blocks. Joining them in double figures was Annie Hatch (13 kills) and Josie Herbst (11). Michal Schuler led the back-row with 13 digs.

Set One: Iowa State 25 Iowa 18

Eleanor Holthaus dominated proceedings early on, firing four kills on her first four swings of the match to put ISU ahead 10-6. Iowa cut the deficit to a pair at 10-8, but behind the serve of Josie Herbst, fired off a 6-0 run to get ahead 16-8. The Cyclone offense dominated, hitting .567 for the set with Holthaus leading the way with seven kills. Iowa State got ahead 1-0 in the match when Annie Hatch notched a solo stuff on Amiya Jones’ attempted slide at 25-18.

Set Two: Iowa State 25 Iowa 22

Both teams’ offenses continued to click to open the second set. It was the Cyclone block who was able to help get the visitors ahead, with Holthaus and Avery Rhodes teaming for a block at 10-8 ISU. The Hawkeyes fought back to get ahead at 12-11 and then by two at 15-13. Kate Shannon’s cameo behind the service line brought Iowa State ahead at 16-15, and from there it was the Cyclone offense that was able to bring the set home. The visitor offense was again on point, hitting .412 for the frame, and closed out the set when Halle Johnston served into the net at 25-22.

Set Three: Iowa 25 Iowa State 19

The Cyclone offense got off to a slow start, allowing the Hawkeye attack to help build a 10-7 advantage. ISU got back within one multiple times before Shannon’s appearance behind the service line brought things even again at 15-15 on a Holthaus back-row kill. The Hawkeye defense came up with the stops when needed at the end, as they got their first block of the match to bring up set point and put it away with a stuff of Hatch at 25-19.

Set Four: Iowa 25 Iowa State 18

ISU continued to struggle to find answers to the Hawkeyes on both sides of the net, as the home side ran out to a 10-2 lead. The Iowa lead got to as many as 10 at 17-7 before the Cyclones started to work their way back into it, getting to within four at 20-16. However, the answers would not come in the fourth set, as Iowa hit .375 as a team, recorded three blocks and two aces to force a fifth set. The fifth set became reality when Candelaria Herrera hit into the net at 25-18.

Set Five: Iowa State 15 Iowa 10

Michal Schuler’s second ace of the night gave ISU a 3-1 lead, but Iowa wiped it out and moved ahead at 4-3. Herrera won a joust at the net to make it 6-5 Iowa State, and Herbst killed off the block to give ISU an 8-6 lead at the change of ends. The Cyclone run continued with Rhodes killing off the right pin at 9-6, and Herbst made the lead five with back-to-back kills on overpasses at 12-7. Iowa State reached match point at 14-10 on a Rhodes kill and was finished on the first asking when Herrera stuffed Jones at 15-10.

Player of the Match

Eleanor Holthaus. The sophomore was decisive yet again for Iowa State in the win on Saturday night. Holthaus fired 19 kills at .395 hitting. She also contributed five digs, three blocks and three assists in the victory.

Up Next

Big 12 play opens up on Wednesday with the Cyclones making the trip to No. 3 Texas. First serve between the Cyclones and Longhorns will be at 7 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.