Iowa State’s weekend will be a busy one as it competes in back-to-back meets, hosting an intrasquad meet before traveling to Cedar Falls to take on in-state rival Northern Iowa Panthers.

ISU coach Duane Sorenson said he was very pleased with how his team performed at the alumni meet, especially the freshman in their first meet at Iowa State, but also said improvements can be made.

“We need to be a little tougher when we are tired at the end of races and finish a lot stronger,” Sorenson said. “We need to control the fatigue.”

Before taking on the Panthers, the Cyclones will host an intrasquad competition splitting the ISU swimming and diving team up into cardinal and gold teams. Sophomore sprint swimmer Katie Vollhaber said she is looking forward to getting actual competition underway.

“It will be a good friendly competition,” Vollhaber said. “It will be fun to get to see some really good competition and going into UNI, our first real meet, it will be good to step up and race against new competition and see where we are at.”

After hosting the intrasquad meet, Iowa State will travel to Cedar Falls to take on Northern Iowa on Saturday. The Cyclones are 24-1 all-time versus the Panthers, but they still present tough competition for Iowa State.

“They have a number of very good individuals,” Sorenson said. “Chelsea Hartman out of Iowa City West is an outstanding distance swimmer. She was even recruited by us at Iowa State. They are tough in dual meets. They also have a good 100 freestyler and are very good in backstroke races.

“There is not as much depth as we have, but their top swimmers are as good as anybody around.”

Traveling will be something different for Iowa State as it will be the first time the Cyclones are away from home this season. Sorenson and Vollhaber agree that it is tougher being away from home.

“Just being in your own pool you have a confidence, but going away it has a different feel and you are a little uncomfortable so you have to get in the mindset of being away,” Vollhaber said.

The Cyclones will hold their intrasquad meet Friday at 6 p.m. at the Beyer Hall pool and will travel to Cedar Falls on Saturday in a meet beginning at 10 a.m.