The Iowa State volleyball team returned home this weekend to face two nationally ranked opponents. The Cyclones were hungry for an upset, and the friendly confines of Hilton Coliseum awaited them. After tallying their first conference victory against Oklahoma three meets earlier, the ‘Clones were looking to chalk up two more for the win column.

When you hear the names Colorado and Nebraska, you think football supremacy, but the domination in athletics at these universities doesn’t end on the grid-iron.

The Cyclones kicked off the weekend double dip by hosting the ninth-rated Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado came into the match with a 9-1 mark in the conference and a 15-2 record on the year.

The Buffaloes were led into the match by outside hitters Courtney Owens and Sarah Lodge, who are set to kill from Kelly Campbell (second in the conference with a 14.26 apg average).

The Cyclones began the first match of their weekend with a 15-2 loss. The Colorado offense gave the Cyclones fits with their balanced attack.

Then in the second game, the Cyclones seemed to have found the solution, fighting to an 8-6 deficit.

From then on, it was all Colorado. The Buffaloes quickly slammed the door on any Cyclone hopes of a comeback, going on a 7-1 run that ended the game 15-7.

In the final game, the Buffaloes took advantage of the small Cyclone bench and drilled the Cyclones 15-2.

Head Coach Kerry Miller commented that the game was “consistent of the year.”

She also added that she has an “inexperienced team who will improve with game experience and work on their passing game.”

The Cyclones were led by Julie McGrath, who set the table 26 times, and by Nanette Allen, who had 10 kills on the night.

The Buffaloes were led to victory by Owens, who had 13 kills, and by Campbell, who had 43 assists.

The loss dropped the Cyclones to 1-10 in the conference and 3-20 on the year.

Halloween Eve looked to be even more scary than the previous night as the third-rated Huskers came to town. Nebraska boasted an unblemished 19-0 record on the year and hoped to make Iowa State victim 20.

The Huskers have been solid all year, and the play of Nancy Meendering up front (220 kills) and All-American Fiona Nepo (13.83 apg), made them appear to be more dangerous than any of the “Halloween” movies.

The Cyclones played excellent volleyball during the first game and were trailing only 7-6 at one point. The Cyclones were then handed a 15-6 loss.

The game scores got progressively worse as Nebraska won the next two 15-2 and 15-1. The losses dropped ISU to 3-21 on the year with a conference mark of 1-11. Meanwhile, the Huskers were still perfect on the year with a 20-0 record and an 11-0 conference standing.

The Cyclones had good performances from Allen and Virginia Hoss, who had 6 kills apiece. McGrath also contributed 17 assists.

Nebraska was helped to victory by Megan Korver, who paced the Big Red attack with 10 kills, and Nepo, who had 28 assists.

The Cyclones will be on the road again next week facing the Aggies of Texas A&M on Friday and the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.