They’re big, tall and fast. No. 8 Texas provides Iowa State with one of the toughest challenges of the season when it comes to Hilton Coliseum on Sunday. 

Freshman outside hitter Haley Eckerman is a player the Cyclones (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) are going to have to keep an eye on. She averages 3.13 kills per set. Freshman middle back Khat Bell is also a solid contributor at 2.58 kills per set. 

While those kill numbers are something to watch, Texas is second overall in the Big 12 in blocks. The Longhorns (8-3, 1-0) average 2.91 blocks per set and have 116 total on the year.

“They run their backs really well,” said setter Alison Landwehr. “Texas is always big, too, so blocking-wise, we need to make sure we hit hard against them.”

Senior middle back Rachael Adams leads the Big 12 in blocks with 1.52 per set for the Longhorns.

Texas has won the last three meetings between these two teams. Iowa State’s last victory came in the second meeting of the season during the 2009-10 season when the Longhorns were No. 2 in the nation. 

The Cyclones went 27-5 that season and 17-3 in conference play.

“Beating Texas when they were No. 2 at the time, fans storming the court after the fifth game, all that is what you love about college sports,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “It was one of the highlights for me personally since I’ve been at Iowa State. Hopefully we can match that and have the same type of atmosphere.”

The match is going to be televised by ESPNU. Iowa State has played well under the spotlight, having beat Florida and Missouri in its two previous televised matches.

Not surprisingly, Texas is back with another strong team. The Cyclones know an average performance will not cut it.

10 team, very athletic, we will have to play some amazing ball to beat them,” Johnson-Lynch said. 

Iowa State has improved in the blocking area over the past two weeks. That will need to continue for the Cyclones to compete with the Longhorns.

Statistically the numbers don’t look all that significant, but to Johnson-Lynch they are. The coach said the Cyclones were averaging just more than two blocks per set before conference play. After the first two conference games, they are averaging just more than three blocks per set. 

Iowa State has the advantage in the digging department. Sophomore libero Kristen Hahn leads the Big 12 in digs so far this year.

“I think we just need to play our defense like we do,” Hahn said. “We need to pass well and serve well. I think if we serve really tough then that will get their passes off the net and that will limit their ability to get balls set tight to the net.”