After opening its Big 12 schedule with a win over Colorado in Ames, the ISU volleyball team will travel to Boulder looking for the season sweep this Saturday.

It has been over a month since the first match between the Cyclones (18-3, 10-2 Big 12) and the Buffaloes (6-15, 1-11) that saw Iowa State win in three sets. Although much has changed since then, Iowa State is approaching the match just like any other one.

“They’re playing at home where they always have an advantage so we just need to step up and play,” said senior setter Kaylee Manns.

Following the Baylor match in which Iowa State had a rally scoring school-record 122 digs, the defensive presence of the Cyclones has never been stronger and more representative of the team’s style of play.

“We just get after it,” Manns said. “We don’t let any balls hit the ground and we have a really quick transition so the block doesn’t have time to get up.”

The Baylor match also showed the team’s ability to win big points and come from behind in matches.

“It’s really good for your confidence,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “If we ever get in that situation again, we can say that we’ve done this before and we came through so we can do it this time.”

Although Colorado’s record may not reflect it, Boulder has been the site of numerous upsets over the past few seasons due to the unique conditions of the city. Despite going 7-13 in the Big 12 last season, Colorado was able to defeat Iowa State, Nebraska and Texas A&M at home.

“Teams have gone to Colorado and lost just because if you’re not ready to play, the altitude plays a little bit of a factor because the ball moves differently there,” Johnson-Lynch said.

That home advantage will be tested by the Cyclones, who have an 11-2 record on the road this season, which includes a four-match road win streak.

“We’ve just done a really good job of being ready to play,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I feel that we’ve passed really well on the road and that allows us to get in a rhythm.”

The attention Iowa State has paid to passing in road matches will be just as important against Colorado due to the different air conditions.

“That’s probably one of the toughest things with playing on the road,” Johnson-Lynch said. “The lighting is different, the ball is different, the air is different and the ball moves a little differently so sometimes it can be hard to pass.”

Colorado is coming off of a 0-3 loss at Oklahoma last Wednesday. The Buffaloes are led by the outside hitter trio of sophomores Becah Fogle and Rosie Steinhaus as well as freshman Kerra Schroeder. The three have 575 combined kills on the season.

“They have a spread offense that’s pretty consistent to each of the hitters,” junior libero Ashley Mass said. “When it’s more spread out it’s harder to commit to people.”

First serve is set for 5:00 p.m. from the Coors Event Center.