VOLLEYBALL: Past, present Cyclones collide

Shane Lucas —

The ISU volleyball team will continue its spring practice schedule with a scrimmage against an alumni team made up of members from the 2006 Cyclones.

In addition to last season’s co-captain and setter Kaylee Manns, the alumni team will consist of outside hitters Nicole (Lorenzen) Atchison, Mary Bisenius and Katie Jessen, libero Katie Churm, middle blockers Lauren (Cummings) Larson, Meghan Ferrie, Jessica Klein and Jen Malcolm.

Libero play from each side should be strong with junior Ashley Mass and 2006 graduate Katie Churm.

Mass is a two-time Big 12 Libero of the Year and was recently named to the National A2 volleyball program, while Churm ranks fourth all-time at Iowa State with 1,475 digs.

Klein, the current director of Volleyball Relations for the team, will step back onto the court to represent the alumni team.

Klein ranks eighth all-time at Iowa State with a .238 hitting percentage and 11th with 244 block assists.

After transferring from Marquette, Klein teamed up with Erin Boeve to help the Cyclones finish 12th in the nation in blocks.

Much of the Cyclones’ recent success can be traced back to the 2006 team as it finished 21-11 and reached the NCAA tournament for just the second time in school history.

The Cyclones opened their spring schedule by going 1-2-1 in a tournament Saturday.

The team defeated North Dakota State, split with Kansas State and fell to Minnesota and Northern Iowa.

First serve from Hilton Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday and admission is free.