Cardinal Tops Gold In Intrasquad Match

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State fans got their first look at the 2012 Cyclone volleyball team on Saturday as Cardinal defeated Gold, 4-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-20, 25-13) in the squad’s intrasquad scrimmage at Hilton Coliseum. Sophomore Victoria Hurtt led all players with 13 kills.

Freshman Mackenzie Bigbee had a strong showing with 10 kills while hitting at a .500 clip. Senior Alison Landwehr registered 38 assists outside hitter and setter Andie Malloy had 11 digs, 13 assists and four kills. Janelle Hudson had 25 assists and six digs in the match.

Junior middle blocker Tenisha Matlock led all players with five kills for Cardinal in the opening set. Matlock, Jamie Straube, Hurtt and Bigbee each added a block assist for the Cardinal squad, and Bigbee and Hurtt each had three kills.

Freshman Natalie Vondrak led the defense for the Gold squad, picking up a solo block and a block assist. 

Straube and Morgan Kuhrt came alive for six and five kills, respectively in the second set, won by Straube’s Cardinal team. Landwehr collected a solo block in the set while grabbing 11 assists.

Hurtt added five more kills in set three as the Cardinal team outlasted the Gold team for a 3-0 match lead in the four-set scrimmage. Taylor Knuth had two of her match-high four block assists for the Gold team. Matlock also tallied four block assists in the match.

Senior Rachel Hockaday registered four kills in the fourth and final set, helping the Cardinal team to a 25-13 set win. Middle blocker Tory Knuth added a solo block and two block assists in the set.

Next weekend the Cyclones hit the road for their first matches of the season, heading to Knoxville, Tenn. to play Cincinnati, No. 12 Florida State and No. 15 Tennessee. Friday’s season opener against the Bearcats is set for 4 p.m. CST.