Cyclone volleyball opens home season against intrastate rival Northern Iowa
August 29, 2006
The ISU volleyball team kicks off its home season Wednesday night against intrastate-rival Northern Iowa at 6:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
Northern Iowa has had the Cyclones number over the past decade. Last year’s victory in Cedar Falls was the first for Iowa State in the past 12 matches against the Panthers. ISU coach Christy Johnson said although last year’s win was great for the program, it doesn’t affect this season.
“Just because we beat them last year, it doesn’t mean anything this year,” Johnson said.
Both teams have a lot of buzz going into this season, which coupled with the natural intensity of a big rivalry, should lead to a great atmosphere for the match.
FASTTRAK
Volleyball Schedule 2006:
>> Hawkeye Challenge
August 25 – Chicago State – at Iowa City 3 – 0 (W)
Aug. 26 – Drake – at Iowa City 3 – 0 (W)
Aug. 26 – Iowa – at Iowa City 3 – 2 (W)
>> 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30 – Northern Iowa – Ames
>> Holiday Inn Irvine Classic
9 p.m. Sept. 1 – UC Irvine – at Irvine, Calif.
1 p.m. Sept. 2 – Michigan – at Irvine, Calif.
6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 – San Diego – at Irvine, Calif.
>> 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 – UMKC – Ames
>> Cyclone Classic
6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 – Valparaiso – Ames
4 p.m. Sept. 9 – South Dakota State – Ames
6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 – Baylor – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 20 – Nebraska – at Lincoln, Neb.
>> 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 – Oklahoma – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 27 – Kansas State – at Manhattan, Kan.
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 30 – Kansas – at Lawrence, Kan.
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 – Texas – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 – Missouri – Ames
>> 8 p.m. Oct. 11 – Colorado – at Boulder, Colo.
>> 7 p.m. Oct. 14 – Texas Tech – at Lubbock
, Texas
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 – Texas A&M – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Oct. 21 – Baylor – at Waco, Texas
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 – Kansas State – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 – Missouri – at Columbia, Mo.
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 – Kansas – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 – Nebraska – Ames
>> 2 p.m. Nov. 12 – Texas A&M – at College Station, Texas
>> 5 p.m. Nov. 15 – Texas Tech – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 – Texas – at Austin, Texas
>> 7 p.m. Nov. 22 – Oklahoma – at Norman, Okla.
>> 2 p.m. Nov. 25 – Colorado – Ames
>> NCAA First/Second Rounds
Nov. 30 – Dec. 3
>> NCAA Regionals
Dec. 7 – Dec. 10
>> NCAA Championship
Dec. 14 – Dec. 16
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“UNI is a great volleyball program,” Johnson said. “A win over them is great for the program. It should be a great match and great volleyball.”
Although Iowa State’s biggest rival in most sports is the University of Iowa, it’s different in volleyball.
“UNI is, outside of the Big 12, our biggest rival,” said team captain Katie Churm.
Early season games are often statement games for teams looking for a successful season. That may be the case for both teams. Northern Iowa received votes in the top 25 preseason poll and is coming off a strong showing in its opening tournament last weekend, going 2-1, with its only loss coming against 16th-ranked Purdue. The Panthers also have something to prove after last year’s home loss to the Cyclones.
“I’m sure they feel like they owe us one,” Johnson said.
The Panthers return five starters from last year’s team and are predicted by many to win the Missouri Valley Conference this season. Northern Iowa is led by outside hitter Laura Rowen and setter Kristin Belzung.
“[UNI] is a better team this year,” Johnson said. “They’re very physical, they’ve got two very strong outside hitters and they’re a very tall, good-blocking team.
“They are going to be better this year, and we are going to have to be ready for that.”
Part of being ready for this match will be carrying over the momentum and confidence brought to the team from last Saturday’s come-from-behind victory over Iowa. After losing the first two games, the team buckled down and won the last three to take the match. Being able to come back showed a maturity that Johnson said wasn’t there last year, and lets the team know it can come back in any situation.
“With our win over Iowa, that will give us confidence going into Wednesday,” Churm said. “[UNI] is going to come out ready, but as a team, we need to be ready to go – we are fired up.”
The team- hopes for a strong showing from the fans for this game because of the rivalry and anticipation for this season.
“It should be a very tough match and we hope to get a lot of people into Hilton Wednesday,” Johnson said.
Churm has noticed an influx in fans as the team improves and hopes that trend continues this year.
“I think we’ll have a lot more fans than normal,” Churm said. “Hilton is a big place, so the more people we get, the better it is for volleyball.”
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