It didn’t take long for Texas to get going.
Kills by outside hitter Micaya White and freshman outside hitter Logan Eggleston started off the game and got Gregory Gym off its feet. The pair set the tone at the match, and the Longhorns just kept it going as No. 4 Texas dispatched Iowa State in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-21), maintaining its perfect conference record this season.
The first set started off quickly in Texas’ favor. A 14-10 lead and kills across the board showed off the team’s balanced attack, but a push by the Cyclones cut the lead to two at 21-19. Texas wasn’t fazed, and closed out the set to take the first frame.
Senior middle blocker Morgan Johnson tallied six of her seven kills in the set, and the savvy veteran proved her mettle once again.
The second set started off the same way, but Iowa State fought back to take a late 19-18 lead in the set. That’s when Texas woke up, stringing together a 6-1 run to push it to a set point in the Longhorns’ favor.
Despite earning a sweep, this match was a lot closer than it looked, with the Longhorns edging the Cyclones in a contest that was at most four-point matches.
The third set brought more of the same, as the frame proved to be yet another close one. Texas had a late 21-17 lead and saw it through the set, finishing off a sweep of the strong Cyclone team.
Iowa State dropped to 1–4 in conference play and 8–10 on the year after starting off the 2018 season as one of this year’s more promising teams.
Eggleston and White led the way for Texas with 12 and nine kills, respectively. On the defensive side, the pair added 10 and 12 digs to complete their double-double efforts.
Now Texas faces its toughest test thus far in conference play as it travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to face the Jayhawks. Kansas is coming off an upset of No. 23 Baylor and its seventh consecutive victory.
Last year’s trip to Lawrence required five sets to swing in Texas’ favor, and the Longhorns should expect a similar fight when they make the trip up Wednesday.
First serve is set for 8 p.m.
