One of the top stories to come out of Iowa State’s spring volleyball season has been Victoria Hurtt. The sophomore outside hitter, with 46 kills, has led the team in kills every match this spring and says she still has room for improvement.

ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said it’s because she doesn’t need a perfect set to be able to put the ball down and has allowed her to do so well offensively.

“Victoria Hurtt is more of what we call a terminator,” Johnson-Lynch said. “It doesn’t matter the set or the size of the block, she can go up and get kills for us.”

Last season, Hurtt posted 138 kills for third on the team behind Jamie Straube and Carly Jenson. Since then, she said she’s been working hard in practice and trying to get better every day.

Setter Allison Landwehr said Hurtt has improved her mental game as well and is an aspect of Hurtt’s game she’s particularly noticed.

“I think from last year to this year, she’s just gotten a lot smarter of when she can go after it,” Landwehr said. “When to use shots and just a more experienced player and I think she just stays aggressive throughout the whole game, which is really her strong suit.”

With her freshman year behind her and a successful spring season so far, one might guess Hurtt has settled into her role on the team. Even with what the spring season has brought, Hurtt said she still has a little ways to go.

“I’d say I’m at an 80 percent right now, but I feel a lot of hard work over the summer and lifting and getting stronger and bigger will make me more comfortable during the [regular] season,” Hurtt said.

When the Cyclones were recruiting the Kansas City, Mo., native, Johnson-Lynch said they saw a lot of potential and areas where she could really elevate her game.

Hurtt’s numbers this spring might normally surprise a coach. However, Hurtt showed what she could do as a freshman last season and Johnson-Lynch said now she’s just finding her groove.

“She’s just kind of found in hitting, we call it your sweet spot,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She’s kind of found that, I feel like, where she’s just very comfortable, she seems very confident, she’s getting better, her technique has probably caught up to her confidence and that’s kind of what we were waiting for.”

Many great athletes credit their success to those who came before them and showed them the ropes, and Hurtt is no exception.

Having played with Jenson last season and Rachel Hockaday, it has allowed Hurtt to see how they play and she said it’s been the biggest reason for her success this spring.

“I think just learning from [Jenson] and learning from [Hockaday] and all the other players and really getting into a rhythm and having the encouragement from my teammates and just working hard every single day in practice,” Hurtt said.

Hurtt wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s completely taken over Jenson’s hitting role from last season, but added that once August rolls around, it might be a different story.

“We’ll see in the fall, but I feel more comfortable and more confidant than I was last year, definitely,” Hurtt said.

Hurtt and the Cyclones finish up their spring season with their first home match since hosting the NCAA tournament on Dec. 3. This time, former Big 12 rival Nebraska comes to town Saturday for a 5 p.m. start at Hilton Coliseum.

Admission is free and will be the last games the Cyclones will play before competition resumes in August.