Sept. 5, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Auburn volleyball team fell to No. 12 Iowa State, 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-13) in the first game of day two at the Diet Coke Classic. The Tigers take on George Washington in their final match of the tournament at 5:30 p.m.
Leading the way for the Tigers was sophomore Kelly Fidero with nine kills, while freshmen Sarah Bullock and Katherine Culwell finished with five kills apiece. Bullock also tallied three service aces and Culwell and junior Liz Crouch had six digs on the day.
Rachel Hockaday led all attackers and finished with 11 kills for the Cyclones. Libero Ashley mass had 10 digs.
Set one opened with the two squads exchanging points, seeing the Tigers go up 4-2. After the Cyclones put together a 5-1 run to make it 7-4, a kill from Sarah Bullock cut the Iowa State lead down to two. At the 10-8 mark, the Cyclones pulled out a 5-0 run and would go on to take the first set 25-14.
The second set started just as the first with the two teams going back and forth. At 5-5, a block from Lauren Mellor and Morgan Johns gave the Tigers the one-point advantage and at 9-9, a kill from Alyssa Davis gave Auburn the lead again. After more point exchanges, Auburn would go up 13-11, highlighted by a pair of kills from Culwell. At 17-17, Iowa State went on to close out the set with a 7-2 run, winning 25-18.
The Cyclones jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but a kill from Fidero and a service ace from Bullock cut the lead in half, 4-2. Iowa State, however, put together a pair of big runs and finished the match with a 25-13 win.
The Tigers conclude the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. match up with George Washington.