After leading her team to the Elite Eight for the first time in Iowa State history, head coach Christy Johnson was named one of Collegiate Volleyball Update’s top five coaches for 2008.

Iowa State notched two huge upsets, first over No.10 Minnesota, then No.7 Oregon in a huge comeback victory.

As the Cyclones continued to advance in the tournament, Johnson said, “It was a little nerve racking, every match closer you get to the final four you see a little bit more pressure.”

A former Nebraska player and assistant coach at Wisconsin, Johnson knows the feeling of moving into crunch-time in tournament play.

“It means a little bit more, but I’m also comfortable at the same time, because I’ve been in that spot several times before as a player and as an assistant coach,” she said.

The Cyclones finished No. 12 in the Bison/AVCA coaches poll, the highest ranking Iowa State has ever seen.

“You feel like it’s a reward in a way from all the hard work that your staff has done and your players have done,” Johnson said. “But it assures you that you’re doing things the right way.”

Not only has Johnson brought up the Cyclones’ level of play, she has also boosted the attendance at Hilton by a landslide. Iowa State finished 15th in national attendance, drawing over 23,000 fans this season, the most Hilton has held in a volleyball season in school history.

Being in the running for a national coaching title this season turns Johnson’s attention to the future of Cyclone volleyball.

“At the same time you feel like you have so much more to learn and so much more to do, and you realize in a way you’re just getting started,” Johnson said.