Playing in its first road game of the season, the ISU volleyball team didn’t let a big crowd or a high ranking shake its confidence Tuesday night when it traveled to Cedar Falls to take on No. 6 Northern Iowa.

The Cyclones won the opening game of the match, 30-24 but eventually fell to the Panthers 3-1.

“The first game was point for point,” associate head coach Amy Farber Knowles said.

“We kept exchanging and fighting back. Neither team went ahead by more than two points,” she said.

“It was close until the end where we went ahead a couple of points and closed it out. It was an exciting match. It was great to take that first game in their home arena.”

Senior setter Lindsey Chapman said the team went into the match with a really good attitude.

“We could have easily been intimidated by the crowd, but obviously that wasn’t much of a factor because we came out really strong that first game,” Chapman said.

“I think UNI was kind of shocked that we are that good this year.”

It was all Northern Iowa in game two as the Panthers took the game 30-18.

“I think we went into the second game a little flat because we knew we had that first game under our belt and it was something with experience we have to grow through,” Knowles said. “There was more confidence and they relaxed a little bit. That’s something you have to learn to persevere, through.”

Knowles said the team can’t relax, especially against ranked teams, because they will come back as Northern Iowa did.

“We didn’t attack quick enough,” Knowles said. “Our focus was broken and we needed to maintain the focus we had in the first game into the second game right away. With some experience and some more confidence we’ll get that as the season progresses.

“It was a great learning experience for them and to be able to see themselves play at that level, they have a new sense of confidence.”

The Panthers won a close third game 30-26 and also took the fourth 30-16 to win the match, 3-1.

“The second game was a struggle but we came out that third game fired up,” Chapman said.

“We played excellent the third game. We had a few calls that didn’t go our way, otherwise I think that third game could have been ours and it would have been a totally different match. If we would have gone into a fifth game, it could have been anybody’s match.”

Iowa State’s record fell to 5-2 while UNI improved to 4-1.

Junior Brittany Dalager tallied 18 kills and 16 digs for Iowa State. Senior Renae Pruess had 13 kills while Chapman recorded 42 assists.

Despite the loss, Chapman said the team learned a lot about itself.

“I think it made us believe that we are for real this year,” Chapman said. “UNI is a good team, but we weren’t scared of them. It helped our confidence so much. It showed that we can play with the No. 6 team in the country.

“Obviously we can play with anybody in the Big 12 because there is nobody in the Big 12 that is much better than UNI. Everybody is at that level.”

Chapman also said the team isn’t going to be intimidated by teams like they were in the past.

“We don’t have that attitude this year and I think that this shows that our team is so much more confident,” Chapman said.

The Cyclones now head to Bowling Green, Ohio, to participate in their final tournament of the year, the Bowling Green State Invitational.

Iowa State faces Murray State on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and West Virginia at 3 p.m. Saturday night the Cyclones will face Bowling Green at 8 p.m.

With six matches complete, the team continues to focus on communication, Knowles said.

“Teams really struggle when there is no communication,” Knowles said.

“It seems like a really minor thing, but it is major in the sport of volleyball. I think their effort in that area of the court has gotten much better.”

Chapman said the tournament should be good for the team.

“It will be our first tournament on the road so it will be some good bonding time,” Chapman said.

“I think it is a tournament we should, and could, easily win if we play to our level.”

Knowles agreed and said if the team plays like they did against Northern Iowa, they could win.

“The girls saw a glimpse of what they are capable of and I think they will grow from there and get stronger,” Knowles said. “I hope that in striving to be contenders in the Big 12, they will want to maintain that.”