With last season full of struggle, the ISU volleyball team said the only way to go this season is up.

But the team said it doesn’t expect to stop there, and it wants everyone to know this is the year for success.

“I am really pleased with how the season is going so far,” said coach Christy Johnson. “Everyone is working really hard, we’re all healthy, and we really feel we’ll be better than a lot of people are expecting.”

After capping the season at 8-21 overall and 1-19 in the Big 12, the Cyclones have a lot to prove this year to their new coaches, their fans and themselves.

“We are more vocal, we communicate better and we are more of an adhesive team this year,” said senior Amanda Craig. “We are working harder than we ever have, and we’re wanting to do it for each other and not just ourselves.”

Johnson said the team is ready to compete, and thinks Iowa State will be able to hurdle the slump its been facing.

“I think we’ll sneak up on some teams this year who won’t be expecting the competition we’ll bring,” she said.

The team said it is ready to prove to the Big 12 it won’t be seen as an easy win anymore.

“We’re in the second toughest volleyball conference in America, and for us to do well this season we’ll have to fight through games of three, four or five,” Johnson said. “There will be no blow outs, and the games will be close, but we expect to be beating some teams above us. We could really go a long way.”

Former player Brittany Dalager, defensive specialist Christine Smeele and hitter Kelly Melohn were losses for the team, but experience is the main factor that will aid the Cyclones this year.

Iowa State returns seniors Craig, Katie Kruenegel, Katy Amundson and Ashlie McWee, as well as juniors Nicole Lorenzen, Katie Churm and Katie Jessen. After being tossed into rotations early in their freshman year, Erin Boeve, Laura Cady and Meghan Ferrie are back with experience under their belts.

Johnson said the newcomers can expect to make an early impact with playing time.

Incoming freshmen include defensive specialist Amy Vos, setter Alyssa Gintant and Sioux City native Mary Bisenius, as well as junior Jessica Klein, a transfer from Marquette.

“We have some good, young talent this season, and that will blend well with the experience we already have,” Kruenegel said. “Bringing in those younger players will be a good dynamic for the team.”

Johnson said the team’s ball handling and defense will be the core of the team, and its offense looks the best it has in years.

“We really have some terminator players this year who are just dominating the ball,” she said. “Our scrappiness and defense will carry us far this year.”

The Cyclones get their first chance to show off their new attitude at Creighton’s Bluejay Invitational Aug. 27.

The team takes on the host and Northern Colorado, both of whom Iowa State defeated in the spring season.

“We handled both teams well, and we are very much capable of doing it again,” Johnson said. “We are expecting to come out 2-0.”