DES MOINES – The true metal of a team is shown when its best player is struggling.

Even with senior outside hitter Erin Boeve having an off night, the ISU volleyball team took down the previously undefeated and No.21-ranked Tigers of Louisiana State three games to one (30-26, 30-22, 30-26, 30-22) Friday in the Hampton Inn State of Iowa Collegiate Volleyball Challenge.

With the Cyclones starting Big 12 play on Wednesday against Baylor, coach Christy Johnson said the win over a ranked opponent would be a big confidence builder heading into conference play.ÿ

“This team is going to be similar to a lot of teams in the Big 12,” Johnson said. “It is really good to be able to matchup with a team like that.”ÿ

The Cyclones (4-4), who have won three matches in a row, bounced back from a sub-par first game to win the next three, despite having 11 less kills than the Tigers. Iowa State hit for better percentage, however, finishing at .203 to LSU’s .132. That number was aided with a .316 hitting percentage in game three and a .268 hitting percentage in game four.ÿ

Iowa State, in each of the four games, took advantage when LSU’s number one hitter Kyna Washington, who had 20 kills in the match, was forced to the back row. The Cyclones scored at least six points in a row at one point in each game, when Washington was not able to get in the athletic Tiger offense.ÿ

Junior outside hitter Mary Bisenius picked up the slack for Boeve by surpassing her career-high for kills with 15, which was set earlier this year against Long Island. ÿ

Johnson said Bisenius’ performance was huge because the players realize that Boeve, as well as senior Lauren Cummings, can not carry the team every night.ÿ

“If she doesn’t play like that, we probably don’t win,” Johnson said. “We have to be able to spread the ball around and there are other nights that we have people that can step up and meet it.”ÿ

The last time the Cyclones defeated a ranked opponent was when they defeated another No.21-ranked set of Tigers in 2006, those being from Missouri.

True freshman Ashley Mass, who made her first start at libero, also stepped up big with a career-high in digs with 21.ÿ

Johnson said Mass solidifies things for the Cyclones’ passing and showed that Friday night.

“She just passes and ball handles really well,” Johnson said. “She is a pretty assuming player, though, and you might not catch that from her, when you meet her or talk to her.”