Fresh off of a win at home against No. 3 Texas on Saturday night, the No. 15-seeded ISU volleyball team learned Sunday afternoon it will be hosting the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Cyclones (20-7, 13-3 Big 12) will be playing I-P Fort Wayne on Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum. Also coming to Ames as a part of the first and second round will be California and North Carolina.

ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch was “thrilled” when she learned of Iowa State’s position in the tournament.

“I felt like we had a shot, but even beating Texas, I really didn’t know if that would happen,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think this team just did some tremendous things the last month and a half. I credit the team and their perseverance and what they were able to do the last couple months of the season.”

Iowa State is currently on a 10-match winning streak with its latest loss coming against Texas in five sets back on Oct. 17. Middle blocker Jamie Straube said the Cyclones winning out was a big factor in hosting.

“We knew that our chances weren’t as good for hosting if we didn’t win out the second half of Big 12 and keep our attendance up,” Straube said. 

In 2011, Iowa State was able to host the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament and have the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis, where it would reach the Elite Eight before losing to Florida State.

Libero Kristen Hahn said that while it is great to be going to the tournament again and have the opportunity to reach Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, “it’s not enough” for this year’s ISU squad.

“I think that we are definitely prepared,” Hahn said about a possible Final Four berth for the Cyclones. “I think our team knows we have the potential to win a national championship.”

California will take on North Carolina at 5 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Coliseum with Iowa State and I-P Fort Wayne following at 7:30 p.m. The winners of those two matches will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Hilton Coliseum.