The ISU volleyball team has been two-faced this season. Sometimes it presses, looking too hard for victories, and plays tense as a result. Other times, however, the players relax and play loose.

It is during the loose stretches when coach Christy Johnson believes the players reach their full potential.

“Sometimes we want to win so bad that we play uptight and tense,” Johnson said. “As long as we can play relaxed, I think we have a shot to beat anyone.”

On Wednesday, the Cyclones travel to Missouri to take on the No. 21 Tigers. Riding the team’s first three-match conference win streak since 1995, Johnson hopes the Cyclones can relax and just play.

“We are going to go down to Missouri as the underdog,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we’ll feel like we have nothing to lose, and we’ll just go for it and relax.”

This match is important, not only because it is against a ranked team, but because Missouri sits just a half game ahead of Iowa State in the conference standings. A Cyclone win, coupled with a Colorado loss, would put Iowa State in sole possession of the fourth slot in the Big 12, an important factor for postseason consideration.

The last time these two teams squared off, the Tigers swept Iowa State in three highly competitive games. Iowa State is a much-improved team since that meeting, and some of those improvements should give the Cyclones an advantage.

“We are doing a lot better winning games that are close at the end,” said senior Nicole Lorenzen. “We struggled with that at the beginning of the season, so I think we are in a much better situation than we were the first time.”

Not only is Iowa State gaining momentum and playing better, but Missouri seems to be slipping. The Tigers started the Big 12 season 7-1, but they have since gone 1-4. Missouri’s struggles, coupled with Iowa State’s three-match win streak and improved defensive play, have the Cyclones ready to go.

“The teams the second time around have probably scouted us a little better, so they know who are good blockers are and are trying to hit around the ball a little more,” Johnson said. “We always work hard on defense, so even though it is getting past the block we are digging it up, so that is fine too.”

The Cyclones are coming off a bye weekend, so they should be well-rested and prepared for the match. Johnson likes where the team is right now, and hopes it carries over to Wednesday’s game.

“I like how we are playing now,” Johnson said. “Just as long as we are playing loose.”

Wednesday’s game begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.