The Cyclone volleyball team kept a clean slate through exhibition play this spring, which ended Saturday in Iowa State’s home tournament. The Cyclones are working on filling the gap left by senior Jen Malcom after her final season in 2008. Malcom is the only starter not returning for the 2009 season. 

In spring competition, Iowa State worked on a new rotation without the starting middle blocker in an attempt to see who can step up into the shoes that the 6-foot-1-inch senior left. Malcom left several marks in the record books at Iowa State: the career (.318), single-season (.343) and single-match (.789) school leader in hitting percentage.  

Despite losing Malcom, the Cyclones will return with plenty of offensive firepower for the upcoming season. With the additions of what is arguably the best recruiting class in the history of the program, the players know if they can set up their offense effectively this season, they will be tough team to beat. 

“When we have a really good pass, we can do anything,” said senior setter Kaylee Manns, who was recently named to the U.S. A2 National team for the summer. “When the pass is on, our hitters are putting the ball away and we have a lot of options on offense.”

Freshman middle blocker Debbie Stadick, who played a significant role in the 2008 postseason run for the Cyclones, stepped up in the home tournament with 27 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Victoria Henson led the squad with 35 kills in the tournament. 

The two are just a small part of the young core of hitters the Cyclones will rely on this fall. Three other to-be sophomores will be taking a significant amount of swings on offense when the season begins. With a season under their belt, the underclassmen are now familiar with the level of play and are beginning to adjust to and improve on the mental side of the game this offseason.

“I think everybody has gotten better,” Manns said. “When you look at people you can tell they’re getting smarter. Our freshmen are getting smarter everyday with their shots and their blocking. At this point not everybody is improving their physical level of play, but mentally everybody is getting sharper.” 

The Cyclones finished their spring season 7-0-1 with wins over San Diego State, San Diego, Wisconsin and four wins this weekend as well as a tie. 

In the first game of the home tournament, the Cyclones split with Iowa, winning the first set 25-19 and falling in the second 25-23 for their only set loss of the tournament.  

After a break, the Cyclones had back-to-back wins over Northern Iowa and North Dakota State, both contenders in the NCAA tournament last season. Iowa State finished out the tournament with dominating performances against both Drake and UMKC.