Two weeks ago, the outside hitter position opposite Erin Boeve was a question mark. Now it’s a constant.

After using a two-player rotation for the first week of the season, the ISU volleyball team has found a consistent presence in junior Mary Bisenius.

The emergence of Bisenius as an offensive threat has been a big factor in the team’s current seven-match winning streak. She had 12 kills Saturday night, including six in the decisive third game, as the Cyclones swept No. 25 Texas A&M, 3-0 (30-27, 30-27, 30-23).

“To have [Bisenius] carry that kind of load for us, it really helps our offense,” said coach Christy Johnson.

Bisenius started off slow against the Aggies, tallying just two kills in game one, but she was there when the team needed her.

In the first game she had a great solo block to give the Cyclones the lead at 22-20, before hammering home the final kill of the game for the win. Her six kills were instrumental in game three as Iowa State took a huge lead and cruised to victory.

Beyond just the one match, Bisenius’s strong play has helped the Cyclones get back on the winning path. She has started every match during the winning streak and was a huge factor in Iowa State’s title at last weekend’s tournament at Drake, being named MVP of the tournament after tallying a career-high 17 kills against then-No. 21 LSU.

“She has been huge for us,” Johnson said. “You need your outsides to be hitting above .200.”

Since stepping into the starting line-up against Long Island, Bisenius has hit .289 and averaged 11 kills per match.

That kind of production takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the team. Not only do other players know they don’t have to do it all themselves, but the opponent can’t focus in on just one hitter, Johnson said.

“It takes pressure off every other hitter that’s up with her, knowing they don’t have to put the ball away every time,” Johnson said. “It even takes pressure off the passers because they feel like they don’t have to pass perfect and she can still get us kills.”

A former walk-on, Bisenius has had to prove herself her whole career. After finally getting a chance to play, she said is more sure of herself and making the most of her opportunity.

“My confidence level has really improved over the past few matches,” Bisenius said. “My teammates’ support has helped a lot.”

Her teammates knew how important it was to have another solid outside hitter, and now that Bisenius has risen to the task, they are making sure she knows how she is helping the team.

“We are always positive about her,” said sophomore Kaylee Manns. “We are always telling her, ‘Mary, you can do it, you can do it.'”

The team is finally playing the way many predicted they would before the season, when it received votes in the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Poll. The play of Bisenius, and the team having confidence in her abilities, are big reasons for that, and it is paying dividends.

After beating another ranked team in Texas A&M, the second ranked team the Cyclones have defeated this season, the team knows it has a chance going into any match.

“Beating Texas A&M gives the whole team a lot of confidence,” Bisenius said. “We know we can beat anyone now, even Nebraska.”

The Cyclones will take on another ranked opponent in No. 7 Texas Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Austin, Texas.