AMES, Iowa - The Mavericks fell in their season opener to the Cyclones of Iowa State Saturday afternoon. Iowa State used 43 kills over three sets to sweep Omaha for the team's second win of the year.
Omaha returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on Drake in the final match of the Cyclone Challenge.
Set by Set
- In the first set, the Mavericks and Cyclones traded the first two points before Iowa State used a five-point for a comfortable lead early on. Sadie Limback broke the run with a kill for Omaha's second point of the set. Midway through the set, Iowa State used a 6-2 lead to gain a 13-4 advantage over Omaha. The Mavericks cut the lead in half five times, but the Cyclones used another 6-2 run to clinch the set 25-11.
- Marriah Buss tallied a kill out of the gate in set two for Omaha giving the Mavericks an early 1-0 lead. Iowa State tallied the next three points, but two straight errors from the Cyclones tied the set 3-3. ISU used a pair of runs to take a 19-10 lead. Limback and Rachel Fairbanks each tallied two kills attempting to chip away at the lead, but ISU went up 2-0 with a 25-16 set two win.
- The Cyclones notched the first two points of set three and traded points with Omaha on the next few volleys. Lakyn Graves and Limback used back-to-back kills to get Omaha within one of ISU. Shayla McCormick's service ace on the next serve tied the set 10-10. The Cyclones started to pull away with three straight kills. The Mavericks would get within one of the Cyclones, but Brooke Anderson, Candelaria Herrera, and Annie Hatch tallied four straight kills for match point. ISU wins 3-0.
Inside the Box Score
- The Cyclones led Saturday's match in kills (43-34), aces (5-1), blocks (4-1), assists (43-32), and digs (56-45).
- The Mavericks recorded double-figure kills in each set, including a match-high 12 kills in set three.
- Sami Clarkson tallied 31 of Omaha's 32 assists.
- Fairbanks recorded a team-leading 12 kills, while Limback added nine and Buss had seven.
- Claire Mountjoy recorded 17 digs.
- Jaiden Centeno, Buss, McCormick, and Graves all made their Omaha debut Saturday.
Up Next
The Mavericks close the Cyclone Challenge with a match on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. in Ames, Iowa.