When you are a six-foot-three senior starter and contesting a threatening opponent, working in concert with talented and responsive teammates allows you to put the ball out of harm’s way.

And that is how Sonya Van Helden played in Saturday night’s volleyball match against Colorado, where she broke two records for a three game match — most kills, 33, and most attempts, 64.

Van Helden is a senior setter from Spencer, Iowa, who is in the middle of her fourth year with the Cyclones. Starting her career at Iowa State as a middle blocker, Van Helden made the switch to right side hitter her sophomore year and began spending time as an outside hitter her junior year.

This weekend Van Helden and the ISU volleyball team will be going to Texas to play Texas and Texas A&M, looking for their first Big 12 win.

“Sonya is a great player to work and play with,” said Colleen Henican, sophomore outside hitter. “She worked so hard, and now it’s paying off.”

“The 33 kills by Van Helden were encouraging,” said Assistant Coach Sarah Lewis. “We will be moving people into different positions and places on the floor in relation to the setter — to give Sonya a few more swings at the ball.”

“Texas is ranked 8th and Texas A&M is 12th. Both are very good teams, very good talent,” Lewis said.

“We need to work on rising to the occasion and getting our players to do as good as possible.”

“We are in a building year,” Lewis said. “Graduation is tough, but we have to keep plugging away in recruiting.”

One up and coming player who also shined in the game against Colorado is sophomore Julie McGrath. McGrath had a record setting 51 assists for a three game match. She was also part of the team record of 59 assists that broke a twelve year record.

McGrath will be starting Friday’s game against Texas, because Jen Lansink is “not 100 percent” according to Lewis.

“Jen has been working back into things and getting better,” Lewis said, commenting on Lansink’s illness that caused her to miss Saturday’s game.

“Julie will continue to get some opportunities that will enable her to get better,” Lewis said.