Iowa State Volleyball Battles Through Cyclone Invitational, Finishes 2-1
The Iowa State volleyball team opened its 2026 season with a gritty 2-1 showing at the Cyclone Invitational, delivering a dominant sweep, a frustrating sweep loss, and a marathon victory over in-state rival UNI that had the Hilton Coliseum crowd on its feet.
Playing in front of home fans across three days, the Cyclones showcased both explosive offense and costly inconsistency. Head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch's squad swept Loyola Chicago on Friday, fell flat against Georgia Tech on Saturday, then rebounded Sunday with a four-set thriller against the University of Northern Iowa that featured a 36-34 fourth set.
Cyclones Open Season with Sweep of Loyola Chicago
Iowa State wasted no time establishing itself on Friday, dispatching Loyola Chicago 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-22) before an announced crowd of 2,216.
The Cyclones hit an efficient .277 as a team, recording 40 kills with just 14 errors on 94 attempts. Nayeli Ti'a led the way with a match-high 10 kills on .333 hitting, adding nine digs. Lilly Wachholz chipped in nine kills on .300 hitting with five block assists.
Defensively, Rachel Van Gorp anchored the back row with 13 digs, while Daaliyah Kemp controlled the net with six total blocks. Setter Ava Martin orchestrated the offense beautifully, finishing with 33 assists, four digs, and two service aces.
Loyola Chicago (0-1) struggled to find rhythm, committing 18 errors on 94 attacks. Leyna Nguyen led the Ramblers with nine kills but also committed five errors. Mallory Bohl was a bright spot, slamming seven kills with just one error for a .462 hitting percentage.
Georgia Tech Sweeps Cyclones on Home Court
The momentum came to a halt Saturday as Georgia Tech swept Iowa State 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17) in front of 2,603 fans at Hilton Coliseum.
The Yellow Jackets (2-0) showcased superior defense and efficiency, hitting .229 as a team with 40 kills. Laura Perugini Bieleski was unstoppable, racking up 15 kills on a stellar .452 hitting percentage while adding six digs and two blocks. Alida Bennour added eight kills and two aces, and Zoe Humphrey contributed seven kills and five block assists.
Iowa State (1-1) struggled mightily, hitting just .093 as a team with 33 kills and 23 errors on 108 attempts. Ti'a was the lone Cyclone in double figures with 12 kills, but she also committed seven errors on 32 swings. Kemp added six kills on .385 hitting, while Macie Lupkes chipped in four kills on a highly efficient .667 clip.
Setter Ava Martin finished with 28 assists and five digs, while Van Gorp collected 11 digs in the losing effort.
Cyclones Outlast UNI in Epic Four-Set Battle
Iowa State closed the tournament Sunday with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over UNI (25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 36-34) before an energetic crowd of 3,207.
After cruising through the first two sets, the Cyclones dropped the third and were pushed to the brink in an extraordinary fourth set that featured 20 tie scores and seven lead changes before Iowa State finally secured the match with a 36-34 set victory.
Nayeli Gonzalez was sensational in her season debut, carrying the Cyclones with 26 kills on a blistering .408 hitting clip while adding eight digs and three block assists. Ti'a delivered another powerhouse performance, registering 22 kills on .349 hitting with two aces.
Martin posted a stellar double-double, dishing out a match-high 54 assists and digging up 10 balls. Van Gorp was a defensive wall, compiling a weekend-high 27 digs and adding two service aces. At the net, Wachholz added seven kills and five blocks, while Lupkes led the blocking effort with seven block assists.
UNI (1-2) put up a fierce fight, led by Cassidy Hartman's extraordinary performance. Hartman carried the Panthers with a match-high 27 kills on 69 swings, adding 10 digs and two aces for 30 points. Isabelle Elliott added eight kills, and Claire Munch chipped in seven. Setter Reese Booth finished with a double-double (37 assists, 11 digs), while Jadyn Petersen led the defense with 18 digs.
What's Next for Iowa State Volleyball?
The Cyclones will look to build on the momentum from Sunday's dramatic win as they continue their non-conference schedule. With a balanced attack and a defense that showed resilience under pressure, Iowa State has reason for optimism heading into the rest of the season.
Key performers to watch include Ti'a, who finished the tournament with 44 kills across three matches, and Gonzalez, whose 26-kill debut signals a major offensive weapon for the Cyclones.