After a record-setting start in which the Cyclones won their first seven games, they head to Long Beach to face the toughest competition they have seen yet.

“I think it’s going to be a great test for our team and I’m excited to play them…,” said head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “ I think it will be a really good tournament.”

At the Mayfair Tournament, the Cyclones (13-2) will face BYU, which has received votes. They will also have two games with host Long Beach State (7-7), who beat the Cyclones 6-0 last year and have won the last six games against Iowa State, Cal State Northridge (4-6), and No. 15 Fresno State (6-3).

“I’m excited because it’s better competition,” freshman outfielder Bianca Lopez said. “We have faced decent teams, but I think it’s going to be a challenge for us.”

The team is looking forward to that challenge.

“Its always more fun, the game is always more intense,” said sophomore pitcher Rachel Zabriskie. “No matter if you try to make other games intense, its never going to be as intense as when you play a team that is as good or better then you.”

The Cyclones feel that challenge will be more fun and will also make them better.

“Once you play teams at a higher level, your level goes up as well,” Zabriskie said. “We have been starting off, not slow, but gradually.”

This weekend will mark the first time that Iowa State will not be heavily favored in every game.

“I don’t really think that our team really thinks of themselves as the underdog, especially going into this weekend,” Gemeinhardt Cesler said.

“You know, we are in a great position, we are doing some things really well.”

The team is also confident going into the weekend.

“If we play the way we have been playing, I’m pretty sure we are going to come out pretty good in the end,” Lopez said.

Although the Cyclones are remaining optimistic, they realize that it will not be easy.

“If we do happen to make an error, or give up a couple of hits, or hit somebody, or walk somebody, whatever it is, however we let people on, defensively we just have to be able to shut that down,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

“I’m worried about us falling behind because that’s what we have been doing, kind of, lately,” Lopez said. “Just stay on top, score first— we can’t fall behind.”