The ISU volleyball team will kick off their season when they host the Heritage Classic at Hilton Coliseum Friday and Saturday.

Auburn, Creighton and McNeese State will also be competing in the Classic.

Iowa State’s primary goal is simple: a 3-0 win record.

“Our biggest goal is to end the weekend 3-0,” head coach Linda Crum said. “We look at each match and say to ourselves that we want to go into this match with the expectation that we win three games to zero. So we have some high goals in terms of what we are expecting out of ourselves and how we will compete against our opponents.”

Crum said the team had a great preseason. Everyone is injury-free, and they are ready to start competing against other teams, she said.

“It’s really important for us to play somebody else,” she said. “We’ve been in the gym, and when you go against yourselves, you cover up some of your strengths and weaknesses.”

Crum said the team has more depth than in past seasons, and she is excited to see what the women can do.

“Now we can actually make some changes, if necessary, in different situations in a match,” she said. “I’m also excited to see our ball control, because I think it is the best we have ever had, and I anticipate us running more middle. Therefore, we will have this balance of offense versus an outside-dominated offense.”

Senior starter Renae Pruess agreed. “Our depth is our strong point,” she said. “We have two teams that are both pretty equally matched. If someone isn’t hot that night there is someone ready for a backup.”

Pruess will be playing right side for the Cyclones. Starting at setter will be senior Lindsey Chapman, Crum said. Sophomores Katie Kruenegel and Ashlie McWee will fill the middle position, with junior Brittany Dalager and redshirt freshman Nicole Lorenzen playing the outside. Freshman Katie Churm will be the defensive specialist, and senior Dana Koziol will play libero.

The Cyclones’ first opponent will be Creighton at 7 p.m. Friday.

Crum said the Blue Jays have some strong players in the middle.

“I think [Creighton’s] instability right now comes at their setter position,” Crum said. “How they get the ball to the middle will be the key, but they have two kids that are potentially really good middle. If they can control the ball and run that middle offense, I think they could be a strong threat. Obviously, our goal, then, is to keep that from happening.”

Iowa State opens Saturday’s match against the McNeese State Cowboys at 11 a.m.

“McNeese State is a team that is probably going to be a scrappier team, more of a ball-controlled defense,” Crum said. “As blockers they are going to try and take advantage of our height, try to tool off our blockers’ hands. They are going to try to hit shots and break the tempo of our defense, which can throw a team out of rhythm.”

The Cyclones’ final game is at 4 p.m. Saturday against Auburn.

Crum said the Tigers struggled a little bit last year, but they have recruited some good transfer players into their program.

“[We’re] not sure what to expect; they come from a good conference [the Southeastern Conference] in terms of its volleyball history,” Crum said. “I would expect that they would be stronger and more dominant on their outside than in their middle. They are somebody that I think will be a team that we are going to have to compete well against.”

Pruess said that the team always starts off the year with a tournament.

“It gives us a chance to play three matches in two days,” she said. “The tournament will help us get a rhythm and get into the swing of things faster and easier.”

The Cyclones had a record of 10-22 last season.