For one member of the ISU volleyball team, this weekend’s tournament at the University of California-Irvine will be about more than just volleyball. For senior captain Katie Churm, it is about going home.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Churm said. “I’ve been waiting four years for this.”

Churm grew up in Irvine and this will be her first time playing in her hometown since she left for college. The chance to play in front of her whole family is something she has been waiting for her entire college career.

“My parents will come out to Ames three or four times a year, and they’ll come to a few away games, but now my relatives can come and friends and family from southern California,” Churm said.

The match isn’t only a special occasion for Churm, but for her teammates as well. They want to play well for her in front of her family.

“Katie [Churm] is my best friend here, so playing for her and playing for her family is exciting,” said senior outside hitter Katie Jessen. “It’s going to be great competition there, so hopefully we can pull out three big wins.”

Even ISU coach Christy Johnson knows the team is looking at this tournament a little differently than normal.

“It’s going to be challenging for us physically, but very enjoyable with Katie Churm living out there and her family being out there,” Johnson said.

Although the team is excited for Churm, it won’t be all fun and games. The Cyclones will face some stiff competition.

“We play two very good teams in Michigan and San Diego,” Johnson said. “San Diego is a top-20 team, and we play them back to back.”

In addition to those two teams, the Cyclones will have to go up against the host team, UC-Irvine, which is expected to play tough on its home court.

Despite the high level of their opponents, the biggest challenge facing the Cyclones might be their own schedule. After an exhausting match Wednesday night against Northern Iowa, the team had to get up at 6:15 in the morning and fly out to California.

“We’re going to be tired, it’s a long trip, we’re going to be on the plane a long time, we’re probably not going to get much sleep,” Johnson said. “Can our kids still come back and play hard and work as hard as if they had been sleeping their beds – that’s going to be the challenge for us.”

One thing that can help keep the team fresh is the depth of the Cyclones bench.

“There will be times if we are up or if we are down where will put someone else in to get fresh legs,” Jessen said.

Johnson might mix up the rotation a little more than usual and rely on some fresh bodies.

“I think we are going to need more depth this weekend,” Johnson said. “So we’ll need to see some more people helping us out.”

The Cyclones open the tournament tonight at 9 p.m. against host UC-Irvine, and then plays a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.

Other volleyball resources from ISD:

Cyclones ‘set’ for change (08/23)

Experienced volleyball team ready to spike the competition(08/23)

Fast Facts: Volleyball terms(08/23)

ISU volleyball team competing for points in Cy-Hawk series(08/25)

Cyclones lead in competition(08/28)

Cyclone volleyball opens home season against rival Northern Iowa(08/30)

Cyclone volleyball topples Panthers for second year(08/31)