Slow starts are becoming too familiar to this year’s ISU squad.

The season started with a 3-1 loss to Florida, the conference season kicked off with a 3-1 loss to Nebraska and the Big 12 road schedule began with a first-set loss, 25-16, to Missouri.

The No. 10 Cyclones will be looking for a fast start as they hope to preserve their 10-match road winning streak as they travel to Waco, Texas, to take on the Baylor Bears.

On Saturday, the Cyclones (8-2, 1-1) did start a bit sluggish against Missouri, losing the first set after trailing 7-0 to start the match.

But behind a 20-dig performance from senior libero Ashley Mass and a pair of double-doubles from outside hitters junior Carly Jenson and senior Victoria Henson, the Cyclones were able to rally back for a 3-1 (16-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-19) victory over the Tigers.

“For us it’s always kind of hard to get going out there, so the first set was a little ugly, but then I think we definitely turned it around 180 [degrees] and then really stepped it up,” said junior defensive specialist Caitlin Mahoney.

The 20-dig performance was not only the 100th double-digit dig match of Mass’ career, but Mass’ 17th dig set a new program record for all-time digs which was originally held by former Cyclone Steph McCannon (1992-95).

“I think it’s pretty special,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “I think it puts her in a pretty elite category, and it’s neat to be able to coach a player that is so elite like that.”

Mass’ dig numbers have been a bit lower this year as most teams have finally taken note of the two-time All-American and are hitting away from the Muskego, Wis., native.

“If they’re not going to hit at me, then I’m going to try and take as many balls as I can passing-wise, too,” Mass said. “If they try to avoid me, [I’ll] try and step in front of people and take that ball so I can help out.”

Now that Mass has the ISU record for digs, she is third on the all-time Big 12 digs list behind Kansas State’s Angie Lastra (2,032) and Missouri’s Tatum Ailes (2,017).

The last time the Cyclones traveled down to Waco was Sept. 23 of last year, and the Ferrell Center was not too inviting for Iowa State. The No. 24 Bears upset the 11th-ranked Cyclones in a 3-0 (23-25, 19-25, 31-33) home sweep.

“Definitely going to Baylor has been hard for us in the past,” Mahoney said. “For us I think it’s just about taking care of our side of the court. I think when we get too worried about what the other team is doing, then we kind of get in a hole. So we just have to focus on what we’re doing and just stop their big hitters.”

Iowa State may have one of the best liberos in the country in Mass, but Baylor (7-5, 0-1) is no slouch when it comes to defense.

The Bears are one of the stoutest defensive squads in the country this season, leading the Big 12 and ranking third in the country in digs with 18.49 per set. The Bears’ defensive efforts are led by senior libero Caitlyn Trice, who is currently seventh in the nation with 5.72 digs per set.

“They’re very similar to us. They’re constantly digging balls and it’s kind of like that both ways, so the rallies just get so long,” Mass said. “We have to be ready for that.”

Baylor is coming off of a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-14) conference-opening loss to No. 12 Texas.

The Bears have played and fell to three ranked opponents this season including No. 22 Northern Iowa, whom they lost to in a five-setter (16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 6-15). Iowa State defeated Northern Iowa at home in a 3-0 sweep two weeks ago.

“Hopefully we learned from last year [against Baylor],” Johnson-Lynch said. “Hopefully we learned a little bit from our opening set against Missouri. We can’t take anyone for granted, we have to be ready to play.”

The match in Waco, Texas, will begin at 7 p.m.