After three days off, members of the Cyclone volleyball team stepped into Hilton Coliseum for practice on Monday to begin preparing for a team that Iowa State has never beaten: Nebraska.

Coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said her team will prepare the same way its does for any match, despite the fact that the Huskers (14–4) are ranked No. 5 in the nation and have a 75–0 advantage on the No. 14 Cyclones (15–3) in the series.

“We always prepare the same way, we always practice the same way, we always scout the same way,” Johnson-Lynch said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing the last place team in the Big 12, the first place team or a team we’ve never beaten.”

With some players out with illnesses and the schedule becoming more draining each day, a break over the weekend couldn’t have come at a better time for Iowa State. The Cyclones did not have a weekend game and had Friday, Saturday and Sunday off from practice.

“We really needed the break,” junior Victoria Henson said. “And I think having fresh bodies coming into practice will help us play better.”

For setter Kaylee Manns, the break made her realize how much she misses volleyball and sent her into practice with a mentality to go out and work as hard as possible.

As the players prepare in a similar way to every team in the conference and non-conference, they will enter a gymnasium unlike most. First serve in the NU Coliseum is set for 7 p.m., and is sure to be filled to the brim with volleyball fans.

The Coliseum is sold out nearly every game and fills up with fans of all ages that are very knowledgeable about the sport. Because Nebraska is traditionally known as one of the top programs in the country, one may think that the environment would be difficult to play in, but instead most Cyclone players find it exciting.

“I like the crowd,” Henson said. “I think that I play better when it’s tougher teams.

“When it’s not that tough, you get kind of bored out there and you’re not as focused.”

For the senior Manns, beating Nebraska has been a goal from day one this season, and the Topeka, Kan., native said how enjoyable it is to play in Lincoln.

“Those are teams that we’ve never beaten, so I would say that that’s definitely our goal,” Manns said. “I want to beat everybody in the Big 12.”

This year’s Cyclone squad puts up one of the highest opportunities for Iowa State to come out on top in the series. Nebraska started off the 2009 season a little shaky, as the Huskers had to adjust to an enormous hole of leadership and skill that three-time All-American Jordan Larson left after graduating last year.

“There were some new people on the floor and some inexperience at the beginning of the year,” Johnson-Lynch said. “My sense is that they’re really starting to find themselves and find their identity.”

The Cyclones are familiar with left-handed outside hitter Tara Mueller and middle blocker Kori Cooper, but the newest addition to the Husker lineup is freshman outside hitter Hannah Werth who has been named the Big 12’s Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week.

Nebraska’s Kayla Banwarth was named defensive player of the week after posting a conference-best 6.71 digs last week. The junior libero makes for a solid defensive effort for the Huskers each game, creating an overall solid team for Nebraska.

“They don’t have any glaring weaknesses, they’re just a solid team top to bottom,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Nebraska and Iowa State currently sit tied for second in the Big 12 with records of 7–2, and the two teams sit side by side in the top of statistical categories including hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, kills and assists.