The ISU women’s gymnastics team is ready to hit the mats tonight against Nebraska to defend their conference title in the first home meet of the season. Following an unfortunate non-conference loss to Brigham Young University, they have stepped up to different level this week in hopes to deliver a magnificent performance at Hilton.K.J. Kindler, in her first season as the head coach following eight years as an assistant, has high hopes and a lot of praise for the young squad.”The Huskers are coming in and looking to ransack us,” Kindler said. “We’ve worked really hard this week and we will be coming out with a hard-core plan and a hard-core attitude.” Nebraska was unseated by the Cyclones last year after six consecutive conference titles and are now “out for blood”, Kindler said. The Cyclones feel no pressure from last year’s performance. Instead, they have sought to prepare mentally and physically. “We have been working hard on our routines and our attitudes … if your not there mentally, you won’t do as well,” said senior co-captain Lauren Goldberg. “I don’t think it’s pressure, but the intensity that we are going to put on ourselves.”The Cyclones also lost two All-American’s last year according to junior Sissy Huey, who won the uneven bars and floor exercise last week against BYU. Despite the loss, Huey said that has not stopped the freshman and sophomores from stepping up and completing the depth for the team.”We are [in every way] capable of doing just as well this year. We have also come a long way since preseason,” Huey said.Chee Chee Calina, freshman from Anchorage, Ala., said she feels a little pressure; not to beat Nebraska but to contribute to her team’s performance.”It’s been a big learning experience,” Calina said. “I want to do well for the team.”The meet will begin at 7 p.m. tonight at Hilton Coliseum.