Sometimes all you need is a little rest and relaxation.

With five days until the Cyclones’ next game, the coaches and players will use the time to regain some energy. With Iowa State’s 3-1 victory over Oklahoma, it is 14-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play. That is the best start in Big 12 play for the Cyclones since 1987.

Some of the players started showing signs of long-term fatigue during the Oklahoma match.

“Some of our players looked tired,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “Carly [Jenson] started taping a little bit.

“When she starts to tape some balls on her attack, that tells me that her legs are getting tired.”

Jenson as well as the rest of the team is expected to have a light practice load for the majority of the week. The coaching staff gave the players the day off on Monday.

Willms impresses coaches

Freshman outside hitter Hannah Willms finished the Oklahoma match with 13 kills and a .382 hitting percentage. Both were career highs for Willms.

In the previous two matches, Willms combined for 10 kills and nine attacking errors.

“I really loved and was happy to see how Hannah Willms came back in that match,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She had a huge night for us and was very key to that win.”

Middle showing productivity

The middle back combination of junior Jamie Straube and sophomore Tenisha Matlock have been producing points in bunches for the Cyclones.

Both finished the victory over Oklahoma with impressive stats. Matlock put up a career-high 13 kills and has a .300 hitting percentage on the season.

Straube is currently hitting .336 for the season. She put up 14 kills against the Sooners.

The most encouraging thing for the Cyclones is that the pair of them can only get better.

“I think Straube is really doing well offensively,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think she has more blocks in her. She needs to continue to be a better blocker and get more blocks per game.”

Johnson-Lynch also talked about the play of Matlock.

“Tenisha can get so much better,” Johnson-Lynch said. “We really only started training her at this position at the beginning of the season. We thought she was going to be an outside or a right side up until pre-season.

While Matlock is hitting .300, Johnson-Lynch believes she can be a .350 or .400 hitter every match.

The Cyclones are set to play Baylor at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday.