Chances for success in the Big 12 Conference are dwindling for the ISU volleyball team. But the squad is still persevering toward a second conference win.

“Our season isn’t over; we still have four more matches,” said ISU junior hitter Ashlie McWee. “We’re going out with no regrets and giving it our all. We’re still competing and still have much to accomplish.”

After a 3-0 rout by Missouri Wednesday night in Ames, Iowa State (8-17 overall, 1-15 Big 12) will travel to Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday to test Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders are 8-14 overall and 4-12 in the conference, and ISU head coach Linda Crum said she feels her team is suited for a win.

“We can match well against them, and the last time we played was not our best match,” she said. “We’re much better now, and we can go out against them ball-for-ball.”

Texas Tech downed the Cyclones 3-1 in its trip to Hilton Coliseum behind the play of senior Kelly Johnson, who racked up 20 kills and 19 digs. Senior setter Laura Grote tallied 29 assists and 20 saves in the match.

In the match, the Cyclones blasted through with 102 digs and only had eight service errors compared to Texas Tech’s 19, but it wasn’t enough to stake the conference win.

Texas Tech is reeling from a 3-2 loss to Oklahoma on Wednesday. The Red Raiders were paced by Johnson’s 25 kills, as well as 14 from Amy Charlebois.

Johnson is ranked second in the Big 12 in kills with 4.79 a game.

Crum said Iowa State’s main weakness is ball handling, which it will try to conquer for Saturday’s game.

She also stressed that her team will be matched well against the Red Raiders.

“They don’t put up too big of a block, and I think we can do a good offense against them,” she said.

Iowa State is ranked second in the Big 12 in digs with 16.81 per game.

There are only a few opportunities left for Iowa State to crawl out of its conference slump.

“It’s all on our side of the net,” McWee said.

“If we can communicate and execute, we should be unstoppable.”