The ISU Women’s Volleyball Club is beginning to prepare for tournaments that could factor in how it is seeded for nationals in April.

Club volleyball at Iowa State provides a little more than just a competitive edge for players who want to have fun.

“[Club volleyball] gives a lot of opportunity people who couldn’t necessarily play at the collegiate level but still have a lot of talent and want to play competitively,” said ISU Women’s Volleyball Club president Casey Voelker.

Before preparing for competitive spring competition, the team must first prepare for challenging tournaments in the near future, including a match against Nebraska this weekend.

“We’re all very pumped about that because they are a good team,” said senior defender Kelly Pickering.

Other collegiate teams the women’s club will play against include Creighton, Kansas and other teams in the Midwest. However, traveling out of state costs the team money.

“Each player pays $125 in the first semester to be part of the club,” said junior right side Taylor Chesnut. “For second semester, we sell T-shirts and use our home tournaments [to raise money].”

Being a part of the Sports Club Council also helps fund the volleyball club, with funds coming from the Government of Student Body by association with the SCC as well.

However, receiving money from GSB comes with requirements of the club as well.

“Not only are we required to meet certain expectations when it comes to budgeting like having a fundraiser, we have to bring in dues and things like that,” Pickering said. “GSB provides money for travel and registration for other tournaments.”

Pickering said it’s a benefit because the team represents Iowa State.

Besides preparing for nationals, which are the first week of April in Kansas City, Mo., this year, the team is working toward becoming a cohesive unit and working on team chemistry on and off the court.

“A big part of club for me is just getting to know the other girls and forming those friendships,” Chesnut said.

Even with a consensus of working together as a team and building on team chemistry, club members said they have to get down to business in order to compete with other schools and get to nationals.

“That’s always the main goal, to get to nationals,” Voelker said. “And before nationals, we want to have a good seed so we can get a good ranking in the tournament.”

Voelker also said the team tries to get to the more competitive tournaments in order to beat better teams. This ensures a higher placing at nationals.

Competition level also picks up once spring comes. As nationals close in, teams finalize rosters and prepare for super tournaments in order to secure decent seeds for nationals.

“Competition is always good especially in the spring when it picks up because it’s closer to nationals,” Pickering said. “People are putting final touches on their teams and making sure everyone is performing well.”