Last season, the ISU volleyball team finished its season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But this year the Cyclones want to go even further.

A few years ago, things like this may not have been possible. The expectations and attendance of matches have changed drastically in coach Christy Johnson’s first two years and, according to the players, Johnson has them shooting higher and higher.

“We have three great coaches .[they’ve] turned this program around tremendously,” said right-side hitter senior Lauren Cummings. “They bring a lot of intensity to practice and it helps us improve, and we’ve made leaps in the last two years.”

Johnson said the coaching staff has been able to nurture the talent base that already existed.

“There was talent here and we just had to train that talent and bring in a few key role players,” Johnson said. “Our experiences allow us to tell them if we pass this well, if we hit this shot, if we set this person, it’s going to allow them to be successful.”

Johnson led the Cyclones to a 16-15 record in her opening season, but in 2006, the team made a huge leap, going 21-11 and 12-8 in the Big 12 Conference while reaching the tournament for the second time in the history of the program.

Outside hitter senior Erin Boeve said the team has been taken to new levels since Johnson was hired.

“These past couple years since Christy’s been here have been really exciting,” Boeve said. “Going to the NCAA Tournament last year was a big thrill for our team.”

Boeve, who was an honorable mention All-American last year, will be a senior leader and full-time outside hitter, switching from middle blocker.

Boeve and sophomore Kaylee Manns are two of only three returning starters for the Cyclones, who graduated four seniors last season. However, this has not dampened the enthusiasm for the coming season or changed expectations of continuing improvement of the program.

Johnson said at the very least, the team wants to make it to the NCAA Tournament.

“Any year we don’t go back is certainly a disappointment to me,” Johnson said.

The Cyclones finished in the top five of the Big 12 for the first time last season, also earning a win against defending national champions the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a feat only a handful of teams have accomplished. This season Iowa State would like to get into the upper echelon of the league with Nebraska and Texas, the two teams Johnson said are the most athletic in the conference.

The nonconference component of the scheduled season is challenging with five NCAA participants. This challenge will prepare the Cyclones to face the six teams from the Big 12 that reached the NCAA Tournament last season – the most from any league.