The ISU Volleyball team will face tough competition as the team continues Big 12 conference play. The Cyclones will be trying to improve on their current record of 2-7 and a conference record of 0-2 when they meet Big 12 rivals Missouri and Kansas in this week’s matches. Iowa State is set to battle Missouri in tonight’s match at the DMACC campus in Boone The Tigers currently hold a 10-1 record on the season after last week’s big win over No. 19 Texas A&M. Missouri also fell to No. 1- rated Nebraska last week for their first loss after starting the season out 10-0. Head Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow were a combined 85-0 in their last two seasons at Columbia College before taking over at Mizzou. With the Tigers fast start, their record now stands at an impressive 95-1 in the last three seasons. Leaders for Missouri include senior setter Heather Gerber who already this season has recorded 359 assists and who currently ranks in the top spot in school history with over 4,000 assists, and sophomore outside hitter Lisa Morris whose 99 digs leads the Tigers, while her 105 kills ranks second only to junior Kristen Johnson’s 116. ISU Head Coach Linda Grensing isn’t too worried about trying to stop the Cyclones’ opponents on the week. “The focus is more on us,” she said. “Right now, we’re worried about having more consistent play. If we can improve our first contacts then the rest of our play will improve as well.” Kansas will also bring a stellar record into this Saturday’s match with Iowa State. The Jayhawks have started off the year with a 10-1 record with a 1-1 conference mark. On paper, the Jayhawks are a pretty well rounded team with three players having recorded over 100 kills on the season. Amy Myatt leads the team with 190 kills followed by Nancy Bell with 153 and Sarah Rome with 105. Setter Molly LaMere has dished out 515 assists while also pacing the defense with 90 digs. Kansas will meet Nebraska this week before heading to Ames to battle the Cyclones. “Right now, we’re just trying to be more consistent,” Grensing said. “We’re a young team, so that will come as we gain some more game experience.” Grensing sees a number of Cyclone players starting to play better as Big 12 play begins. “Stacy [Nicks] is really starting to step it up,” Grensing said. “I see her and Sara [Stribe] starting to get more used to each other, and be more consistent.” Senior Nicks currently ranks second for the Cyclones with 80 kills closely behind outside hitter Nanette Allen’s 86 kills. Sarah Rollman has also had a steady year, totaling 70 kills along with Allen, who is leading the team in defense with 82 digs. “Sarah Rollman and Nanette [Allen] have been consistently strong for us,” Grensing said. “As they continue to improve and work through the season, that consistency will improve.” Iowa State will have its work cut out for them this week with the stiff competition, but Grensing seems like she’s looking forward to it. “With a young, inexperienced team, you’re going to get better as the season goes along,” she said. “I’m really looking for that to happen.”