If third sets this season have been any indication, the Cyclones aren’t much for intermission. 

So far this season, No. 19 Iowa State (7-4, 1-0 Big 12) has exited intermission and lost the third set in six of 11 matches. That includes losing the third set in the last four matches the team has played. 

“It’s happened to us a few times, so obviously it’s something we need to address,” said ISU volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. 

Iowa State led Baylor 2-0 at intermission on Saturday before getting off to a slow start in the third set. Instead of a sweep, the Cyclones were forced to close the match out in four sets.

It was the third time in six of those third-set losses this season that the team has let the sweep opportunity get away. 

“I think we get so excited that we’re up 2-0, and we want to win the third one so bad our focus is more on the fact that we’re up instead of just closing it out and getting it done,” said libero Kristen Hahn. 

Hahn said it might help if the team hits volleyballs around following intermission, adding that it might get them back into the game mindset. 

The woes have also been on the mind of the coaches. 

“We actually talked as a coaching staff to try to replicate [intermission] in practice a little bit,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Give them a five-, six-minute break where they do nothing and try to get it revved up again.”

Big 12 vulnerable, open to win

As Iowa State moves deeper into Big 12 play following a victory against Baylor on Saturday, it has become clear that the conference is up for grabs. 

“I don’t know that anyone’s so dominant this year that we couldn’t be the team at the top at the end of the year,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Of the Big 12’s woes, Johnson-Lynch noted No. 9 Texas’ preseason losses, No. 15 Kansas State’s loss to Oklahoma in early conference play and even her own team’s loss to Syracuse two weeks ago. 

Last season, Iowa State went 13-3 in the Big 12, good for second place behind Texas. With two new members this season and more uncertainty, the focus has shifted even more to each individual match. 

“The most important thing for us is that every single game matters and not just getting hyped up for those big games against Texas and K-State who are ranked above us,” said setter Alison Landwehr. “Every win is going to get us that much closer to the first place title.”

Winning the conference isn’t the only goal, either. So far this season, the rankings for the top 25 have quickly shifted as three different teams have already been No. 1 in five weeks worth of polls. 

“I think [the rankings] are going to be switching all over the place,” Hahn said. “USC just lost to Oregon this week after beating the No. 1 team.”