After reeling from a Wednesday 3-2 loss in five games against Kansas, the ISU volleyball squad will face possibly its toughest competitor of the season thus far.

The Cyclones face No. 4 Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln, and it will be no easy task against the perennial powerhouse. The Cornhuskers boast a 14-1 overall record and are flawless in the Big 12 at 8-0, after coming off of a 3-1 win over No. 16 Kansas State on Wednesday.

“They are a great team. We have to have a complete mindset against them, and we need to focus on each ball,” said ISU head coach Linda Crum. “We’ll concentrate on the small performance goals that everyone has to do in their own positions.”

Nebraska uses its towering height in all aspects of the game and can block and swing as well as any team in the nation.

Crum said the Cyclones will try to “serve them off the court,” in terms of shutting down Nebraska’s offense.

Freshman Sarah Pavan and senior Melissa Elmer lead the Cornhuskers in hitting percentage and place fourth and fifth in the Big 12, respectively. Pavan hits at a clip of .364 per game, followed by Elmer’s .362.

The 6-foot-5 Pavan ranks third in the conference with 4.76 kills a game and is tied for second with fellow freshman teammate Tracy Stalls in blocks with 1.71 a game. Elmer leads the Big 12 with 1.86 blocks, while senior Ally Rebholz comes in seventh at 1.42.

Sophomore Amanda McCormick dominates with digging average of 5.57 per game, pursued by teammate Jennifer Saleaumua at 3.85.

Nebraska ranks first in the Big 12 in blocks, digs and opponent hitting percentage, while taking second in hitting percentage, kills and assists.

“They are a very tough team and have proved themselves as a huge team,” said ISU junior setter Amanda Craig.

“We have to have the attitude to go in and compete because with every match there is a new chance.”

The Cyclones travel to Nebraska coming off a night of “Katie” successes, as Katie Jessen led Iowa State with 16 kills and three service aces, followed by Katie Kruenegel with 15, surpassing her season best of 14. Kruenegel also tallied four assisted blocks.

Katie Churm tacked on a game-high 24 digs of the team’s 75 digs, and Katy Amundson provided five kills.

Iowa State was outblocked by Kansas 13-10 and outhit 79-69. The Jayhawks warranted a hitting percentage of .306 while Iowa State pulled out a 1.71 clip.

First serve is at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Devaney Center in Lincoln.