The ISU volleyball team logged more than 1,000 miles traveling in the first 10 days of their 2008 season, so trips to Kansas and Texas in their next two Big 12 matches will be nothing out of the ordinary for the women’s team.

The Cyclones (9-3, 1-0 Big 12) head to Lawrence, Kan., on Saturday, to take on the Jayhawks (6-4, 0-1).

“That helped because in road situations we know what to expect now,” junior setter Kaylee Manns said. “The wear and tear; we got that out of the way already.”

Coach Christy Johnson said she thinks experiences like that make a team tougher and stronger in the long run.

“The fact that we didn’t want to kill each other by the end of those trips and that we came out with a pretty good record was a good sign for the team,” Johnson said. “They’re going to play well on the road, and [Kansas] is actually a pretty easy trip for us.”

The Jayhawks dropped a tough five-setter to Colorado on Wednesday in which they led two sets to one. Kansas, which out-hit the Buffaloes, has lost three of four matches, after starting the season 5-1.

Iowa State did exactly what Colorado did to the Jayhawks in last season’s match at Kansas, which was a late season comeback that spurred the Cyclones to a run that took them to their first NCAA Regional ever.

“I don’t think any of us will ever forget that match down there last year,” Johnson said.

The Jayhawks are down in the bottom half of nearly every statistical category and some of that may be due to missing one of their returning starters, outside hitter Jenna Kaiser, because of an unknown injury. Kaiser has yet to play in a match this season and is not expected to be ready for the match this weekend.

Johnson said Kaiser was a good terminator for them last year and her loss hurts their offense, but they still have several options in their unique 6-2 offense.

“It puts more stress on your blockers because they have three hitters up all of the time,” Johnson said. “We have to do what we do well, which is digging the ball, and put Kaylee in system.”

Kansas still has several options without Kaiser, including Karlina Garlington, who is third in the conference at 4.16 kills per set. Garlington had 24 kills in the match with the Buffaloes.

“That offense just gives your blockers so much more to think about,” Manns said.

A win for the Cyclones, to get them to 2-0 in the conference, will be key with the second and third-ranked teams in the country, Nebraska and Texas, respectively, on the schedule for next week.

“[Kansas] is always a good place to play because it is a small gym with a good crowd and there is good energy,” Johnson said.