Although the ISU volleyball team was unable to overcome the No. 3 team in the nation, it has a chance to knock off the No. 2 team.

The Cyclones take on the challenge of a perfect 11-0 Nebraska squad Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State has not beaten the Huskers in 72 tries.

“Our mentality is that we can hang with anybody and play with anybody,” said senior Jen Malcom.

That confidence stems from Iowa State’s performance against the No. 3 Longhorns. Iowa State was able to stay even with Texas in blocking and out-dug the Longhorns 42 to 41. The Cyclones (9-5) were able to finish with a hitting average of .272 as a team.

“We were right there with them,” said coach Christy Johnson. “We are physical enough to compete with those teams.”

The Cyclones let the game slip away in the end, however, and suffered a narrow loss of just two points in the final two sets against the Longhorns.

“Mentally we just have to be there and focused the whole time,” said setter Kaylee Manns in reference to Nebraska. “We can’t take any plays off.”

Coming off the close contest against Texas, the Cyclones are forced to put the past behind them once again and come out mentally and physically ready to turn around and play another top team in the nation.

“We’re ready for the competition,” Johnson said. “I think we’re hitting our stride now.”

Malcom will be coming into the Husker contest after having a solid performance against the Longhorns. Malcom led the team with a hitting percentage of .533, which increased her season average to .436. Rachel Hockaday, Victoria Henson and Malcom all ended with nine kills against Texas.

“Texas has given us a little more fuel for the fire, to go out and play hard and do our best,” said Malcom.

 Iowa State will be forced to stop the power of the Huskers’ outside hitters. When Nebraska beat Texas, the Huskers hit .319 as a team and senior outside hitter Jordan Larson led the Huskers with 19 kills. Everything for the Huskers seems to begin and end with Larson, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.

 “She’s a key player and we’ve got to be ready for her,” Johnson said.

 Nebraska outside hitter Lindsey Licht also put on a dominating performance against the Longhorns with 17 kills and a hitting average of .500 in the game. Outside hitter Tara Mueller, who averaged .286 against the Longhorns, will also serve as a threat to the Cyclones.

“One of the problems with Nebraska and a team like Texas is they don’t just have one gun, they have several,” Johnson said.

The Huskers are one of six teams in the nation with an undefeated record and, despite Iowa State’s previous loss, the Cyclones plan to come out strong against the undefeated Huskers.

“We just want to show that Iowa State is an up and coming program and can hang with the big dogs,” Malcom said.