Iowa State wins Cy-Hawk volleyball thriller

The Hawkeyes rallied back from an 0-2 hole to force a fifth set.

POWERED BY CARL’S AUTO GROUP CY-HAWK SHOWDOWN VOLLEYBALL EDITION. USUALLY IOWA STATE CONTROLS THIS ONE. THE FANS AT IOWA CORALVILLE TONIGHT ACTUALLY CAME OUT. TEAM STEPPED IT UP AND GAVE THEM THEIR MONEY’S WORTH. KCCI SHANNON EARHART WAS THERE. WHILE IOWA STATE MAY LEAD THE NATION IN KILLS AND ASSISTS PER SET, THESE MOMS LED THE CHEERING SECTION HERE AT EXTREME ARENA FOR THE CY-HAWK SHOWDOWN. IOWA GOT OFF TO ITS BEST START IN NEARLY A DECADE, AND THESE GUYS WEREN’T GOING TO MISS IT. THE HAWKEYES ARE SEVEN AND TWO FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2016. CYCLONE FRESHMAN AALIYAH GOOLSBY DID NOT CARE. SHE PINS THIS INTO THE BACK ROW. IOWA STATE BUILT A SOLID LEAD IN GAME ONE, BUT QUICKLY SAW IT. DISAPPEAR. JIM MCGREW AND HANNAH WHITTINGSTALL THROWING A BLOCK PARTY TO TIE THE GAME AT 22. IOWA STATE SET POINT. GOOLSBY FAKES THE DAGGER INSTEAD, FLOATS IT INTO EMPTY SPACE TO SECURE GAME ONE, 2523. THE CYCLONES CRUSHED THE HAWKEYES IN GAME TWO, WINNING 2513, SO A SWEEP WAS STILL ON THE TABLE, BUT IOWA WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. ALYSSA WARDEN SERVED BACK TO BACK ACES TO GIVE IOWA A THREE POINT LEAD. WHITTINGSTALL LAYING THE HAMMER. THAT’S MORE LIKE A POWER DRILL BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T DO IT JUST ONCE, BUT TWICE. SHE SEALS THE SET. 2521 IOWA STATE LEADS TWO SETS TO ONE HERE IN GAME FOUR. IT’S MCGREW WHO FORCES THE DECISIVE FIFTH SET. GAME FIVE HAS PLAYED TO 15. CLARE AMARAL RIGHT UP THE GUT TO GIVE THE HAWKS THE LEAD EARLY. AMARI HENDRICKS WALKER SMOKES THIS PAST THE BLOCKERS. IT IS A TIE GAME. WE SAW A BACK AND FORTH FIFTH SET, BUT HERE’S WHERE THE TABLES TURNED. LIBERO RACHEL VAN GORP PANCAKES TO SAVE THE KILL. IT’S POPPED AROUND AND EVENTUALLY GOOLSBY GETS THE BLOCK FOR THE POINT. IOWA STATE TAKES A 1311 LEAD. CYCLONES CAN WIN IT HERE. THE PASS FROM TIA NEELY, THE SET FROM MORGAN BRANTON. THE SLAM FOR THE STATE. LILY WALKE HALTS, ATTACHES HER NAME TO THAT ONE. IOWA STATE WINS THE CY-HAWK SHOWDOWN IN FIVE SETS. AND IT NEVER FELT SO GOOD. IT MEANS A LOT. I’VE NEVER LOST TO IOWA, SO I CAME INTO THIS. I WAS LIKE, I GOT TO BE FLORIDA. I GOT TO BE FORNO. YOU KNOW? IT WAS A LONG GAME, BUT IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING. AND I MEAN, TO WIN HERE TOO. IT WAS A IT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR

Iowa State wins Cy-Hawk volleyball thriller

The Hawkeyes rallied back from an 0-2 hole to force a fifth set.

Updated: 12:32 AM CDT Sep 18, 2025

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Cy-Hawk Showdowns always seem to go down to the wire. Wednesday night in Coralville was no exception, as the Cyclones (8-1) held off a rally by Iowa (7-3) to win the match 3-2.Iowa State won the first set 25-23, then dominated the second set 25-13. They appeared to be on their way to a sweep. The night was just getting started. Iowa won set 3 25-21, and set 4 25-21 to force a winner-take-all set 5.Set 5 was close most of the way. The score was tied at 11 before ISU scored three straight points to go up 14-11. The final score wound up 15-12. There were 21 ties in the match.Gia McGrew led Iowa with 13 kills. Alea Goolsby had 17 kills for the Cyclones. ISU coach Christie Johnson-Lynch is now 16-3 against Iowa.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa —

Cy-Hawk Showdowns always seem to go down to the wire. Wednesday night in Coralville was no exception, as the Cyclones (8-1) held off a rally by Iowa (7-3) to win the match 3-2.

Iowa State won the first set 25-23, then dominated the second set 25-13. They appeared to be on their way to a sweep. The night was just getting started. Iowa won set 3 25-21, and set 4 25-21 to force a winner-take-all set 5.

Set 5 was close most of the way. The score was tied at 11 before ISU scored three straight points to go up 14-11. The final score wound up 15-12. There were 21 ties in the match.

Gia McGrew led Iowa with 13 kills. Alea Goolsby had 17 kills for the Cyclones. ISU coach Christie Johnson-Lynch is now 16-3 against Iowa.

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