Statistics are often irrelevant in a rivalry.

Yet it’s true the ISU volleyball team has lost four of its last five matches and will be entering a hostile environment Saturday night to face a 9-2 Iowa team.

It’s also true the Cyclones (5-4) have defeated the Hawkeyes in each of the teams’ previous eight meetings dating back to 2003 and have taken something positive away from each of their four losses this season.

That being said, much of this will not matter when the rivals take to the court Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I think all that’s moot when we go there,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch of the two teams’ records and statistics. “I just know how they play when they come here or when we go there; they usually play their best match of the year. So I think we have to expect them to play very, very well.”

The Cyclones are already experienced in tough arenas this season, having been to both Northern Iowa and Nebraska thus far. They were able to leave Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a 3-2 victory on Sept. 4, but the Cyclones were not as lucky in Lincoln, Neb., last weekend, falling to the Cornhuskers in straight sets.

This weekend, the ISU team will once again be facing a packed venue in Iowa City.

“It helps a lot, playing in front of those huge crowds, especially when they’re not necessarily cheering you on,” said Mackenzie Bigbee, sophomore right side hitter for Iowa State. “It really just helps you get the mentality you need going into a big opponent’s gym.”

The Cyclones have been kept busy with matches early on this season and have not yet had much time to train and focus on specific things. Quick fixes during practice have ranged from figuring out the passing game to stepping up the blocking and defensive effort.

This week, they’ve finally had the chance to train in-depth and have decided the primary goal should be to nail down a consistent, hardworking mindset on every serve.

For ISU senior libero Kristen Hahn, one of the few upperclassmen on this year’s team, Iowa is as familiar an opponent as there is on the schedule.

“I know a lot of the girls on the team, and I know they’re going to play really hard,” said the native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “So I think we just have to match that. We’re playing on their home court. My freshman year [was the last time] we played there, so it’s been a while. I think it’s just a matter of coming in, getting the job done and playing as hard as we can.”

Saturday’s match is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.