With Big 12 conference play slated to start Friday, the Iowa State volleyball team was looking for a confidence boost at the Jumbalaya Classic in New Orleans over the weekend.

The Cyclones received one in the form of two victories and only one loss, to 22nd-ranked Oral Roberts. ISU starts conference play Friday at Baylor at 7:30 p.m.

“It feels good to get a couple of wins under our belts before the start of conference play,” said ISU middle blocker Rachelle Van Scoyoc.

ISU won their first match of the tournament against host New Orleans, 15-10, 11-15,15-8, 13-15, 16-14.

Sonya Van Helden had 30 kills for ISU in the match, the third-most total for a Cyclone in one match. Setter Jen Lansink had 45 assists.

“Jen and I were really connecting well in the first match,” Van Helden said. “She ran the offense efficiently the entire tournament.”

ISU lost to Oral Roberts in three straight games before beating Troy State, 15-2, 15-8, 15-9. The win improves ISU’s season record to 4-8.

ISU finished with 23 service aces, to only 17 for their opponents in the tournament.

“I told the team before the tournament they needed to start serving aggressively if they wanted to start winning,” ISU Coach Jackie Nunez said.

ISU had a higher hitting percentage against New Orleans and Troy State.

“We showed a lot of improvement on offense,” Nunez said. “We were able to hit the ball well and do some of the things we wanted to do on the offensive side of the court.”

Van Helden finished the tournament with 59 kills, Van Scoyoc had 35 and Colleen Henican had 29.