After playing four games in four days, and suffering the first loss of the season, the Iowa State volleyball team is using this week as a chance to prepare and increase intensity prior to Big 12 play, beginning next week. The Cyclones fell to Minnesota 3-1 in the Diet Coke Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, in an intense championship match.

As the team returned to Ames, the Cyclones had both Sunday and Monday off. But when practice rolled around on Tuesday, Iowa State was motivated to prepare the rest of the week; responding to the loss in a positive manner.

“I think the attitude is great. I think they realize how close we are to competing with some of the best teams in the country,” said head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “To know that we’re going toe-to-toe with them is pretty exciting and it’s motivating.”

After a grueling week, some of the players may still feel sore and exhausted, but without a mid-week game the Cyclones have a chance to focus on themselves.

“I just think in general it has given us a lot of time to regroup and figure out where we want to go here,” said senior setter Kaylee Manns.

Then-ranked No. 13 Minnesota was the first big challenge the Cyclones faced in the 2009 season. The Gophers put up one of the biggest blocks in the nation and are one of the most physical teams Iowa State will see all year. Being able to face a challenging team heading into the Hawkeye Challenge is something Iowa State sees as a way to adjust.

Going into the game, Minnesota had already seen No. 22 Kansas State and No. 3 Nebraska in competition. The Gophers lost in five sets to the Huskers and were victorious over the Wildcats in five.

“They’ve played three top-25 teams already and that was our first real challenge in the preseason,” said Manns. “It was kind of a wake-up call, especially for some of the young players, of how it’s going to be the rest of the season.”

Iowa State struggled offensively against Minnesota’s defensive barrier consisting of a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, a 6-foot-1 outside and a 6-foot-6 freshman weapon on the outside. This week the Cyclones have worked on hitting higher off blocks instead of hitting low into the opponents’ hands.

With vengeful Minnesota and Gopher fans that surrounded the court, the Cyclones may have felt the pressure, especially in the fourth set where they suffered a 25-13 loss.

“I think everyone was a little rattled because we were losing and we hadn’t lost yet in the tournament and either had they,” said junior outside hitter Victoria Henson.

Instead of seeing the loss as a mistake, the Cyclones will use the game as foresight to what is coming during the rest of the season. Iowa State will need to focus on finishing attacks and finding a way to hit around blocks in the upcoming games in order to be successful.

“We couldn’t finish and we just need to find someone who’s going to put the ball away and step up when we need it,” Manns said.