With the No. 6 ranked recruiting class in the country, it is difficult for ISU volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch to contain her enthusiasm for this season and her acclaimed freshman class.

“This is big time, that’s how I feel,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think this class has the potential to take a program to another level.”

For a squad that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last season and only graduated four seniors, there are not many open spots for Johnson-Lynch’s largest recruiting class since she arrived at Iowa State in 2005.

However, recruiting classes with this caliber of talent don’t come around for any team very often and Johnson-Lynch said some will make their presence known right away.

“I do anticipate some of them playing,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Honestly I couldn’t even tell you yet who it’s going to be, but I know that two or three or four are going to contribute, no doubt.”

The seven-player class features student-athletes from across the country with all sorts of playing experience. Named to ESPN HS’s 2011 All-American team and ranked one of the top recruits in the country, setter and outside hitter Andie Malloy headlines Iowa State’s 2012 class.

A graduate of Lovejoy High School in Allen, Texas, Malloy helped her team make history as the first team to win four consecutive 3A state titles in Texas. The 6-foot-2 utility player also traveled the globe with the U.S. Junior National Team and hopes her experiences can transcend to her teammates.

“Having to practice with such a high level of intensity and being around competitive players from all over the world just teaches you a lot about the game,” Malloy said. “I just feel that really has helped me become a better player so hopefully it can be contagious.”

Libero Caitlin Nolan from Carroll, Texas, is Malloy’s sole Texas counterpart in this year’s class. The Southlake High School alumna helped guide her team to three consecutive all-district championships and played a role in her club team’s second-place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior National Championship last season.

With Big 12 newcomer Texas Christian just 30 minutes away from her hometown of Carroll and a handful of Texas schools to choose from, Nolan said she got some flack from friends for going to a conference rival.

“It’s competitive; [I] get to play a lot of friends, especially because a lot of my friends went to Texas schools, so I’ll get to see them at least twice a year, which is good,” Nolan said.

Last season, Big 12 Libero of the Year Kristen Hahn was the only libero on roster for the Cyclones. This year, not only Nolan joins the team but Nebraska-native Bria Rasmussen does as well.

Rasmussen notched 5.71 digs per set for Grand Island High School last season and was recognized as an all-state honorable mention by the Lincoln Journal Star.

While being part of such a highly touted recruiting class is an exciting time for this year’s freshmen, Rasmussen said it’s no time to be satisfied.

“It’s obviously really high expectations to perform like the No. 6 recruiting class,” Rasmussen said. “You just have to prove it to everyone that you really are that good and just keep the standard up there.”

One luxury this class has is none of the players are being asked to come in and fill a starting spot right off the bat. That isn’t to say none of the freshmen will get a chance to start, but it allows them to get acclimated to college and the increased level of play.

“I’m a middle, so Tenisha [Matlock], Jamie [Straube] and Tori [Knuth], just looking up to them and learning from them has been nice because you kind of take little steps and get better every day,” said Natalie Vondrak.

Vondrak, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, averaged more than 4.2 kills and 3.5 digs per set at Bishop Heelan High School last season. Vondrak helped lead her team to a state championship appearance as well, posting 24 kills in the loss to Waverly-Shell Rock.

For those who follow the ISU volleyball team, Waverly-Shell Rock might ring a familiar tune. That is because outside hitter Morgan Kuhrt, another one of the 2013 recruits, was on the winning side of that championship match.

Last year marked Kuhrt’s second state volleyball title with Waverly-Shell Rock and fourth conference title while averaging four kills per set during her senior campaign. Not only does Kuhrt bring a powerful swing to the Cyclones, but some familiarity as well.

In addition to playing against Vondrak in the state championship last year, Kuhrt played with and won a national championship with fellow freshman Mackenzie Bigbee in 2011 with their Six Pack Club team. Kuhrt said the familiarity helped make the move to Iowa State much easier.

“It’s really nice and I always know that she’s going to be there and we’re roommates,” Kuhrt said of Bigbee. “I’m always with her and it’s nice to have someone to talk to and just have support there.”

After Kuhrt committed to Iowa State, the right side hitting Bigbee followed suit and the former teammates are just that once again. In addition to being on the USA Volleyball Junior National championship team with Kuhrt, Bigbee was named Most Valuable Player and finished off the title match with the winning kill.

The Williamsburg, Iowa, native said it’s a big step from playing at the high school and club levels but added she wants to help the team exceed its already high expectations.

“I’m just hoping that whatever I do I can help contribute to the team and help them reach their goal,” Bigbee said.

The last player to commit for the cardinal and gold was setter Jenelle Hudson. Hudson hails from San Diego and is an All-American out of Bonita Vista High School.

Hudson said she made her decision later than normal because she was considering many different places to take her athletic ability. After checking out Ames, she knew it was the right fit for her.

“I was looking at a lot of schools at the end and I just got recruited the first tournament and I came out here on my trip,” Hudson said. “I loved the coaches and the team is really nice and their volleyball program is really good, so when I came here I just felt like it was right, so it was just a go after that.”

One thing all the recruits have in common is they all played on high school and club teams that had a lot of success. Johnson-Lynch said it’s no coincidence and players like that bring a little extra to the table.

“You want players that have played under pressure, that have played at a high level [and] who have won a lot,” Johnson-Lynch said. “When you’re winning a lot, that player probably has something to do with it and that’s what we like to recruit.”