Sydney Jones reaches 700 career kills as Houston volleyball defeats Iowa State

Needing just four kills to reach 700 in her career, junior outside hitter Sydney Jones totaled 16, leading Houston as it defeated Iowa State 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20) on Sunday.

“It’s a great feeling,” Jones said. “It means a lot knowing that I am capable of doing what I know I can.”

In the first set, after Houston tied it 9-9, both teams traded points until the match was tied 16-16.

Freshman setter Shannon Dworaczyk also accounted for all 12 assists in the first set, totaling 43 of Houston’s 51 assists as Houston took set one off an Iowa State attack error.

“She’s risen to the occasion, got thrust into the role and has owned it ever since we put her in the unit,” coach David Rehr said on Dworaczyk’s impact as a young setter.

The second set started out with both teams making errors, with three errors within the first six points. Afterwards, Iowa State would fire off a 4-0 run and a 5-0 run to take the second set off a kill by freshman middle blocker D’Aaliyah Kemp.

The third set started similarly to the other two. Neither team was able to gain a distinct advantage over the other until a Houston 3-0 run to go up 10-8 led to Houston taking set three off a junior outside hitter Kamille Gibson kill, totaling 15 on the day. Iowa State never tied the set after Houston went up 9-8.

Gibson, along with Jones and sophomore outside hitter Noemi Despaigne, combined for 31 kills. Despaigne also reached 200 career digs with four on the day.

The fourth set began as a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to break the other. After a 5-0 run, including two service aces from Gibson, Houston took an 8-6 lead. Iowa State would never tie the Cougars again as Houston took set four and the match off a Jones kill.

“We have the pieces to be able to do just as much as to anybody else,” Jones said.

Houston is now 12-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

Next up, Houston will travel to Tucson, Ariz., to face Arizona on Friday, Oct. 30, at 2:00 p.m.