As the ISU volleyball team has witnessed over the last two weeks, forces of nature can take away tradition and routine in a matter of minutes.

But no matter how much physical damage the flooding caused, it certainly wasn’t going to take away from potential and an extremely bright future.

Radiant smiles, laughter and upbeat attitudes filled the gym before practice a week prior to the season opener. The excitement in the air was palpable.

Despite everything thrown at them this preseason – Hilton Coliseum is now virtually unusable for the entire season – the Cyclones are still overflowing with enthusiasm for arguably the most highly anticipated year in program history.

“I’m really excited about it,” said junior outside hitter Rachel Hockaday. “There’s nothing to be upset about. We’re all going to stay positive, and I think we can turn it into a big home court advantage.”

The Cyclones enter the season as the No. 9 team in the nation, which is the highest preseason ranking in school history. They also came in at No. 3 in the Big 12 preseason poll.

Only one starter from last year is absent from the ISU roster in 2010, making for a team with enough experience and depth to rival any other in the country.

To supplement the returning experience is the No. 16-ranked recruiting class in the nation, and those three freshmen are already making huge strides in transitioning to the college game.

“We have a pretty veteran team, but we also have a lot of young talent,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “There’s competition at every position like there’s never been since I’ve been here.”

Granted, losing one of the most prolific athletes in program history is never a good thing. But even with the loss of two-time All-American setter Kaylee Manns, the team’s great amount of depth has already kicked in.

Sophomore setter Alison Landwehr has since taken the reins of the offense, and while the former Missouri Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year will likely be the only first-year starter, she certainly has plenty of support around her.

“I couldn’t have been put in a better situation,” Landwehr said. “We have so many good passers, and it makes my job much easier when they’re getting the ball right to me just about every time.”

Leading that passing system is first-team All-American libero Ashley Mass, a two-time Big 12 Libero of the Year. The senior led the Big 12 in digs per set in both 2008 (5.01) and 2009 (5.49).

And once the ball is in Landwehr’s hands, she will be able to choose from the surplus of talented hitters around her as well.

Senior outside hitter Victoria Henson is Iowa State’s second returning All-American, a third-team selection after her stellar junior season.

Joining her is fellow preseason All-Big 12 outside hitter Hockaday, as well as middle blockers Deb Stadick and Jamie Straube, and right side Kelsey Petersen.

All were starters for nearly the entire 2009 season, and will provide Landwehr with the most physical and athletic offense the Cyclones have ever had.

“Every year I feel like we’re more physical than we’ve ever been, and I have to say the same thing this year,” Johnson-Lynch said. “In terms of physical talent I think we’re in as good of shape as we’ve ever been. I feel like we’re playing higher above the net and blocking better than ever.”

After making runs to the Sweet 16 each of the last three years and once breaking through to the Elite Eight, the team is confident it has what it takes to take the next step to a Final Four.

The endless possibilities for this season have players firing on all cylinders, as they prepared over the summer like they never had before.

Three times a week they were doing voluntary workouts at 5 a.m., and days in between, their time was spent practicing in the gym.

“We all set goals for the summer,” Hockaday said. “The summer before, some people went home and some stayed, so this year we made a goal for everyone to stay here. This summer was really encouraging because we were all there pushing each other and working hard and everyone is on the same page.”

And the buzz around the upcoming season doesn’t just include the program itself, as it has also permeated into the Cyclone fan base.

As of Monday morning, season ticket sales have surpassed the 1,000 mark for the first time ever, obliterating the previous record of 608 set last year.

The season’s first serve will be this weekend at the prestigious AVCA Showcase in Omaha, Neb. Iowa State will open its nonconference slate with No. 13 Florida at 2 p.m. Saturday and No. 14 Kentucky at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Both matches will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports.

Iowa State’s home opener in its new house at the sweltering, orange-clad Ames High School gymnasium is one week later, when the Cyclones welcome UW-Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 3.