If there was ever a more intense rivalry than that of Iowa State-Iowa, the ISU women’s gymnasts would say it’s their ongoing battle to take down the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Huskers have qualified for national competition each of the last 10 years, finishing in the NCAA Super Six five times, and have only been denied one Big 12 championship crown — the title taken by the 1999-2000 Cyclones.

“It’s always close with Nebraska,” said senior Chee Chee Calina, who said she vividly remembers the anguish of losing several Big 12 titles to the Huskers by under two-tenths of a point during her career.

With two strong wins over No. 15 Missouri and No. 6 Iowa, and boasting the school’s highest-ever national ranking, the Cyclones are hungry for a victory.

“This is the team to do it and Friday is the time,” Calina said. “Our first two meets built a lot of confidence in each other and [we] trust that our teammates will all do their jobs.”

ISU head coach K.J. Kindler said it will take a lot of determination and confidence to win.”This team knows that when they step on the floor they will hit,” she said.

Kindler said the team’s outstanding performances could be partly attributed to the preseason training and team training in the gym, but said the key to the Cyclones’ success is their confidence in one another.

“Nothing can compare to confidence. I, as a coach, am extremely confident when I’m on the floor with them,” Kindler said. She said the team is so unified that nobody worries about mistakes.

“There are contributions from every class,” Kindler said. “No one person dominates and that is huge. It is important for everyone to know they are making a contribution to the team.”

Kindler said the team has now had a taste of success and is working to reach its goals by hitting the routines the Cyclones know they will need to continue their success.

Calina said the team should also thrive on its home mat.

“We’re excited to show off in front of our home crowd,” she said.

Calina called performing routines in front of her home crowd an amazing experience. She also said this meet means a lot to the team’s freshmen who will be competing in Hilton Coliseum for the first time.

Iowa State will take on Nebraska at 7 p.m. Friday.