Hailey
Iowa State pulled off a thrilling 5-set win over Kansas State on Wednesday night, snapping a six-game losing streak in Manhattan. It was a high energy match filled with comebacks, big plays, and standout performances.
If you love volleyball or just good sports drama, this game had it all. Let’s dive into how the match unfolded, who starred, and what’s next for the Cyclones.
Match Summary: Iowa State vs. Kansas State
Iowa State entered the match with a 13–2 overall record and 4–1 in Big 12 play, while Kansas State was 9–3 overall, 2–3 in conference.
Over five intense sets, the set scores were:
16-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 15-11.
This was Iowa State’s first win in Manhattan since 2020, ending their six-match losing streak against the Wildcats there.
Comeback and Composure
After dropping the first set, Iowa State steadied themselves. They won the second, lost a tight third, and then powered through the fourth and fifth to claim the match. That shows tremendous team composure — staying calm under pressure and rising when it mattered most.
Player Highlights
Several players stood out. Here are the top performers:
- Reagan Hanfelt (freshman, middle / back-right): 14 kills, 8 blocks, 5 digs, .435 hit percentage (career high)
- Faith DeRonde (senior, outside hitter / right): 11 kills, 1 service ace, .325 hit percentage (season high)
- Nayeli Ti’a (redshirt junior, outside): 13 kills
- Morgan Brandt (senior, setter): 53 assists, 4 kills
- Rachel Van Gorp (defensive specialist): 30 digs
These performances were key to pushing Iowa State across the finish line.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
First Set
Iowa State started slowly. Kansas State jumped out to a 12-3 lead. The Cyclones tried to fight back but couldn’t close the gap. The set ended 25-16 in favor of K-State.
Second Set
This set was tight. Iowa State trailed or was tied most of the time but rallied late. Key contributions: DeRonde, Brandt, Hanfelt. Cyclones won 25-22.
Third Set
Iowa State led 17-13 at one point. But Kansas State fought back, and the set turned into a tense battle. K-State took it 27-25.
Fourth Set
Feeling the pressure, Iowa State brought strong energy. DeRonde served an ace. The Cyclones hit well (.323) and outhit Kansas State to win 25-19 — pushing the match to a deciding fifth set.
Fifth Set
Iowa State started fast, going up 5-1, then 12-5. They kept the momentum and closed out the match 15-11 to secure the win and the series.
Team Leaders & Final Stats
Here’s a table summarizing leaders and final team numbers:
| Category | Iowa State Leaders / Totals | Kansas State Totals / Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Kills | Hanfelt 14, Ti’a 13, DeRonde 12 — 69 total | 59 kills |
| Blocks | Hanfelt 8, Duckworth 4, Ti’a 3 — 11 total | 8 blocks |
| Digs | Van Gorp 30, Ti’a 10, Brandt 9 — 80 total | 78 digs |
| Assists | Brandt 53, others smaller | — |
| Aces (Service) | Brandt 1, Krzeslak 1 — 2 total | 5 aces |
| Service Errors | 7 errors | 7 errors |
| Hitting Percentage | .195 | .168 |
| Hit Errors | 32 | 28 |
Important keywords like Iowa State, Kansas State, volleyball match, Big 12 appear frequently to help the article’s SEO strength.
What’s Next for Iowa State?
Iowa State will stay in Kansas for their next challenge. They’ll face No. 15 Kansas at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Cyclones will hope to ride this momentum and keep their positive streak going.
The five-set win over Kansas State was a major statement for Iowa State volleyball. After starting poorly, they showed grit, resilience, and teamwork to battle through. Standout players like Reagan Hanfelt, Faith DeRonde, and Nayeli Ti’a made big contributions.
The Cyclones snapped a long losing streak in Manhattan and proved they are serious contenders in the Big 12. With confidence high, they now turn their focus to Kansas and another tough test on the road.
This match will be remembered not just for the win, but for how they earned it—through heart, focus, and strong performances when it mattered most.