Even though many faces will be unfamiliar, do not be fooled into thinking the women’s volleyball team is not capable of being competitive.

“The pre-season is going well,” Coach Jackie Nunez said. “The talent is exceptional and we have sizable, athletic, quick players with good attitudes and work ethics.”

Pre-season practice brought players to Ames on Aug. 9 so the women would be ready to kick off the 1997 season on Aug. 29 at the Creighton Tournament.

This year’s team is made up of one senior, three juniors, two sophomores and nine freshmen.

Senior Heidi Rogers played in all 32 games last year and is expected to continue playing as a defensive specialist and right-side hitter. Junior Colleen Henican, an outside hitter, is Iowa State’s only returning starter. In 1996, Hennican finished fourth on the team in kills with 219. Hennican also led the team in digs nine times during the season.

“I’m excited about the season,” Hennican said. “The freshmen are great, we’re working as a team and practice is fun, but challenging.”

Junior Julie McGrath and sophomore outside hitter Andrea Thul both return with 32 games of playing experience from last season.

McGrath is emerging as the team’s primary setter. McGrath tallied 51 assists against Colorado last fall, setting a record for most assists by an individual in a three-game match.

Sophomore middle blocker Shellie Davis also returns from the 1996 squad. Davis competed in 16 games last season.

Nine freshmen and one junior college transfer student will fight to fill the holes left in the Cyclone lineup due to the graduation of Sonya Van Helden, Rachelle Van Stoyoc, Steph Dorhn and Jen Lansik.

In 1996, the Cyclones finished with a 7-25 overall record and a 3-17 record in the inaugural Big 12 conference.

ISU’s victories came against Dayton at the Iowa State Invitational, Eastern Illinois at the Northern Illinois Tournament and and both New Orleans and Troy State at the University of New Orleans Jambalaya Classic.

In conference action, the Cyclones defeated Missouri twice and Kansas once.

The Cyclones are set to compete in four tournaments this fall: their season opener at the Creighton Tournament, the Hofstra Tournament, the Iowa State Invitational and the Virginia Invitational.

Iowa State opens the Big 12 conference season at home against Baylor and Texas Tech on September 26 and 27.

Nunez said that the conference will remain competitive from top to bottom again this season. She said Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Kansas State and Texas Tech are among the best in the league.

Last year, six of Big 12 teams were ranked in the top 25 and Nebraska made it to the final four of the NCAA tournament.

This will be the fifth season that Nunez has coached ISU volleyball.

“Our primary goal is to get better every day,” Nunez said. “We competed in spring tournaments and did well, which gave the returning players confidence. We have some rebuilding to do but the future looks hopeful and exciting.”