The ISU volleyball team has a chance to get back on track when they take on the struggling Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder on Wednesday.

The Cyclones (11-8, 5-4 Big 12) will attempt to end their current three-match losing streak against a Colorado team that has not won a conference game and is ranked near the bottom of every Big 12 statistical category.

Despite their record, the Buffaloes (5-12, 0-9 Big 12) have given teams everything they can handle throughout the season. Colorado, who owns a victory over then-11th-ranked California, has had seven of its matches go the full five games, but is 0-7 in five-game matches, while Iowa State is 1-2. The Buffaloes lost four consecutive five-game matches to start the Big 12 season, but two of those were against Kansas State and Oklahoma, who are rated in the top 25.

Coach Christy Johnson said the Buffaloes have become a very scrappy team without All-Big 12 outside hitter Amber Sutherland, who was lost to injury before the season.

“Any time you lose your best player, you are probably going to struggle that season,” Johnson said. “But they fight and they’ve got in some tight four- and five-game matches this year.”

Colorado is led by libero Callie Webster, who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week last week after a season-high 33 digs against Missouri, and right-side hitter Alexandra Buth, who leads the team in kills with 203. The Buffaloes spread the ball around, however, and have four other players with more than 130 kills.

Senior middle blocker Erin Boeve said the Cyclones need to go in and play like they know they can.

“We need to serve and pass well – it always comes down to those two main points,” Boeve said.

“Then we can run a spread-out offense and have them on their toes, not knowing where we’re going offensively.”

Colorado has not won a match outside of its home state but is 3-4 at the Coors Events Center. Colorado also had two wins at a tournament held at Colorado State, beating teams that are just out of the top 25 – Winthrop and Miami of Ohio.

“You really have to be ready to play them, especially at their place,” Johnson said. “They’re not always the flashiest team, but they compete.”

Junior middle blocker Jen Malcom said winning long rallies against a team like Colorado on the road is an extremely important thing to do.

“Instead of fighting with them for a while and letting them win the rallies, we need to get the momentum and keep it going,” Malcom said. “We need to come in focused and build our own energy, since there is not going to be a whole lot of people out their to help us.”

The first serve for the match is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Scouting the Buffaloes:

Record: 5-12 overall, 0-9 Big 12

Good wins: No. 11 Cal, Winthrop, Miami of Ohio

Bad losses: Baylor at home, Texas Tech, Kansas, Furman, Central Florida

Player to watch: DS/L Callie Webster (4.54 digs per game, which ranks third in the Big 12, only Big 12 player with 30 digs in a match this season)

Notes: Iowa State had lost 18 in a row against Colorado until coach Christy Johnson got to Ames. The Cyclones have won three of four in her first two years, including a season sweep last year after beating the Buffaloes 3-0 in Boulder.