The No. 15 ISU women’s gymnastics team is looking for more than a win against No. 19 Minnesota Saturday — it’s looking for a sense of stability and peace of mind.

In a sport where injury and pain are part of the game, the Cyclones (1-1) will face two opponents: a menacing bout of lineup-shuffling injuries as well as a well-trained Minnesota (1-1) squad.

Earlier in the week, sophomore Katie Lasher suffered an ankle sprain that will temporarily sideline her from spots on the vault and uneven bars. Lasher is the fourth Cyclone to be kept from competition this season because of an injury.

“It’s like a meteor shower,” said head coach K.J. Kindler. “It hits a different [gymnast] each week; it definitely rocks the boat a little bit.”

Despite the incessant shake ups to the Cyclones’ lineup and morale, Kindler said she has been impressed with the team’s ability to maintain composure and strive for a high degree of excellence.

“I thought they’d be struggling a bit more,” Kindler said. “Last week they went in and contended with one of the top teams in the country (Alabama) on beam and floor.”

Kindler said that Friday’s meet will help keep Iowa State on its toes while the team focuses on consistency, which has long been the key characteristic of Minnesota’s gymnastics.

“Going up to Minnesota is very tough,” Kindler said. “They have smart coaches who put together smart routines; I don’t anticipate they’ll make many mistakes.”

Two Cyclone gymnasts are returning to competition after overcoming injury. Juniors Laura-Kay Powell and Jessica Oney will see action on the floor and vault, respectively.

Powell quickly progressed in her recovery from a severe ankle sprain in October. Though she has been able to compete in some events this season, Powell said she now hopes to add her leadership on the floor exercises as well.

“We have a good floor lineup, so hopefully I’ll add to that,” she said.

Powell’s record shows that she shouldn’t have trouble giving a boost to the Cyclones’ score. She finished last season by claiming the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship floor title, which sent her to nationals to compete as an individual in the event.

Oney, who garnered all-conference honors by finishing fourth on vault at the 2004 Big 12 championships, will make her return to competition as the team’s vault anchor after sitting out with a broken hand.

“I think the team is pretty confident in me,” Oney said. “As a junior, I’ve competed quite a bit, so hopefully that will bring back some familiarity for the team.”

Sophomore all-arounder Janet Anson added that Powell and Oney’s returns will greatly help boost the team’s leadership on those events.

The Cyclones take on the Golden Gophers at 7 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.