After sliding past Northern Iowa in their first road test, the No. 12 Cyclones (3-0) travel to Minneapolis for three more contests. With a rough crowd in Cedar Falls that put pressure on the Cyclones, Iowa State will be on the road again Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5.

“It will be a test of our ability to prepare in a pretty short amount of time, particularly Minnesota   — we’ve got 3 matches in two days,” said head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “We’re going to have to play in front of two really great crowds and we’re going to have to play great teams.”

Iowa State will play three matches against George Washington, Auburn and Minnesota in the Diet Coke Classic. The Cyclones are set to face George Washington on Friday at 5:30 p.m., Auburn on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Minnesota at 8:00 p.m. Saturday night.

“This is going to be our first tournament this season where there’s a bunch of competition, so we’re going to have to step up our game,” said senior setter Kaylee Manns. “And there’s probably a bitter feeling from Minnesota because of what happened last year in the NCAA Tournament.”

A look at George Washington:

2008 record: 19-11

The Colonials began the 2009 season with a strong start, winning the DC Challenge in Washington, D.C., and are now 3-0. George Washington’s Katie Butz was named the tournament MVP after scoring a combined 46.5 points in the three matches the Colonials played. Butz is a senior right side hitter that will be a big weapon for George Washington at the net.

A look at Auburn:

2008 record: 6-25

The Tigers started off this season by winning the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Ala. with a record of 4-0 and have yet to drop a set this season. Junior Morgan Johns is an outside hitter the Tigers look to on the attack, and freshman Katherin Culwell has made an impact as a newcomer to the team in the outside hitting position. With nine freshmen — and not a single senior — Auburn has a lack of experience that could be a disadvantage this season.

A look at No. 13 Minnesota:

2008 record: 27-7

Iowa State ended the Gophers’ season last year in the second round of the NCAA tournament. After losing 1-3 on Minnesota’s home court, the then No. 10 Gophers’ will most likely have revenge in the back of their minds. Minnesota’s first four games of the season were played at the AVCA Showcase in Omaha, Neb., where the Gophers beat Kansas State, George Mason and Navy. The Gophers lost only one game in the tournament, which was to No. 6 Nebraska in five sets. Senior libero Christine Tan was recently named Big Ten’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week on August 31. Tan brings experience to the Gophers’ defensive lineup making it difficult for opponents to put the ball down. Minnesota, just one spot behind the Cyclones in the AVCA national poll, is likely to be the toughest competitor for Iowa State this weekend.