After compiling a 2-7 conference record so far this season, the ISU volleyball team will face the top-ranked team in the Big 12 on Wednesday.

Iowa State will host No. 8 Kansas State with first serve set for 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones are coming off a 3-0 loss to Kansas.

“It was a tough loss,” said head coach Linda Crum. “Especially losing the second game 31-29. I feel that we outplayed Kansas in the second game, but we couldn’t finish the job and they came out with the win.

“If we could have won the second game and evened the match at one game a piece, then we would have had the momentum going into the third game.”

Crum said the Cyclones didn’t serve well and needed to improve before playing Kansas State.

“Serving is like shooting free throws,” Crum said.

“We work on it every day in practice and it is extremely important in starting off the game right.

“It can get us a point for our team, and we can limit the opposition’s offense.”

The Cyclones will have a tough task ahead of them as they face a Kansas State team that has won 18 of its last 19 matches and is first in the Big 12 with an overall record of 18-3, 8-1 in conference play.

“We have to go into this game thinking about competing,” Crum said. “We can’t worry about making mistakes. Mistakes happen in volleyball, but we can’t let those mistakes affect the way we play.”

In the second game in the loss to Kansas, sophomore Christine Smeele came into the game and was efficient, totaling four digs and one attack error. Iowa State may look to her again against Kansas State to provide an extra boost.

“At this point in the season we try to make practices as competitive as we can,” Crum said. “We may have positions decided based on play in practices in the few days before a match. Christine has been playing great the past few weeks and has earned her spot on the floor.”

After hosting Kansas State, the Cyclones will head to Lincoln, Neb., to take on Nebraska, currently second in the Big 12.