ISU volleyball coach Christy Johnson summed up the key to her team’s success with one word: defense.

Johnson said the offense has struggled some with several of the changes to the lineup, but the defense has been able to cover for that.

“We have really only settled into a lineup in the last few weeks,” Johnson said. “We feel like our defense is what we continue to rely on, hoping that we improve our offense over the next 10 matches.”

“Honestly, that’s really what’s winning us matches and keeping us in some of the other matches, even when we don’t win,” Johnson said.

The Cyclones (12-8, 6-4 Big 12) lead the conference in digs per game and are second in the Big 12 in blocks halfway through the conference schedule. Freshman libero Ashley Mass leads the Big 12 in digs per game. These numbers also contribute to a opponent’s hitting percentage that ranks second behind conference leader and undefeated Nebraska at .171.

Senior middle blocker Erin Boeve said Iowa State needs to work on their offense and keep their defense strong.

“We need to become more consistent,” Boeve said. “Some nights we have great matches and we need to carry that out longer.”

The Cyclones have been through an up-and-down first half. They started 1-4, then won 10 of 11, but lost three in a row before beating Colorado last Wednesday. Sitting in nearly the same position as they did when they made a run to the NCAA Tournament in 2006, Iowa State finds itself one game behind fourth-place Kansas State and two games behind third-place Oklahoma.

Sophomore setter Kaylee Manns said the Cyclones just need to come out stronger in the second half of the Big 12 schedule than they did in the first.

“Everybody gets progressively better,” Manns said. “Hopefully in like three or four games we’ll make a statement and not starting battling teams we’ve already beaten.”

The Cyclones led the 23rd-ranked Sooners 2-1, but dropped two tightly contested games to lose the match. That would have been Iowa State’s third victory over a ranked team, adding to wins over then-No. 21 LSU and then-No. 25 Texas A&M.

Johnson said the team feels there are several important matches left in the season.

“What happens over the next four or five weeks is going to determine so much,” Johnson said. “Every match is going to be huge; one night or two nights could be the difference between finishing third or finishing fifth.”

Iowa State has three of its four matches against teams ahead of them in the conference at home and six of its last 10 are at Hilton Coliseum.

Manns said not having to travel for those matches will be important.

“It just kind of wears you down,” Manns said of the travel. “It’s always nice to have the home-court advantage and have everyone supporting us.”

As far as the offense, since moving back to middle blocker, Boeve has become the go-to hitter on the team, ranking in the top 10 in the Big 12 in kills and blocks per game. Manns has distributed the ball to the balanced Cyclone hitting attack and is fourth in the league in assists per game.

Boeve said she is just more at home in the middle of the court.

“I will just go play and do whatever they want me to do,” Boeve said.

Iowa State starts the second half of the Big 12 with a home match against Texas Tech, who they defeated 3-1 in Lubbock on Sept. 29.

Johnson said having a weekend off before starting the stretch run was important, as far as getting some rest and recovery.

“Sometimes, as coaches, you just want to go, go, go,” Johnson said. “I think that’s a great way to start the second round.