Kaylee Manns thinks that since she’s been around for four years, she should know what’s going on.

Her teammates and coach will be the first to tell you she certainly does.

“She’s just a great leader,” said head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “She’s so experienced, she’s a great defensive player and just a great all-around setter.”

The senior setter and team captain recorded her 58th career double-double and moved into eighth-place on the Big 12’s all-time assists list Saturday night against Missouri.

“I just always hope to lead by example and step up to make the big plays,” Manns said.

Manns and outside hitter Diane Kieger — the only seniors on the team — hold the highest winning percentage for an Iowa State recruiting class. In their time in Ames, the duo have seen the Cyclones go from a middle-of-the-road team to a nationally-ranked contender.

“When I got here we were an up-and-coming team,” Manns said. “We were good, but nobody expected us to win. There’s confidence now. Now there’s no question.”

Manns’ performances tend to go over the expectations of what a traditional setter does. She is hitting .307 for the season, has a .904 serving percentage and is third on the team in digs.

“A lot of setters maybe set great balls but after that don’t impact the game very much,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think she impacts every part of the game.”

Manns made that impact apparent on Saturday when she ended the first set by stuffing the ball down on Missouri’s 6’1 Paola Ampudia after the two jousted at the net.

Manns currently leads the Big 12 in assists and ranks third nationally. Many of those assists have come to junior outside hitter Victoria Henson, who became just the eighth player in Iowa State history to record 1,000 kills in a career.

“She’s a big team leader,” Hensonsaid. “She’s someone who can really get our team going when she wants to.”

Manns doesn’t just impact the game with her plays four years on the court have allowed her and Johnson-Lynch to develop an unspoken understanding of what’s happening and what needs to be done.

 “When we get in the crunch we’ll make eye contact and I’ll say ‘Try this play’ and she’ll be thinking the exact same thing,” Johnson-Lynch said. “We think a lot alike and that’s comforting to know.”

As for the future, Manns has a simple list of goals which includes a second-place Big 12 finish and beating a certain opponent the Cyclones haven’t been able to conquer.

“I want to beat Texas at home,” Manns said. “We’ve come so close every year and it’s my last year so I’d love to do that.”

Whether or not the Cyclones meet those goals won’t change the impact Manns has had on the team and overall environment of Cyclones volleyball.

“There’s just no comparison,” Manns said. “Even with the fan base and all of the people that support us, there’s just no comparison.”