Experience with a vengeance is the way to describe the 1995 Iowa State women’s volleyball team.

After experiencing a season of near misses in 1994, the Cyclone netters are primed for a great showing in the last year of the Big Eight conference and are dreaming of a very attainable post-season NCAA bid.

The cardinal and gold are ranked 30th in the USA Today preseason poll.

Head Coach Jackie Nunez said the high ranking is due in part to her team’s spring season play.

“Right now we are the highest ranked team in the preseasons that didn’t make the NCAA tournament last year,” Nunez said. “Iowa State volleyball has never been nationally ranked before.”

The Cyclones accumulated a record of 13-2 in the spring, including a win over second ranked conference powerhouse Nebraska.

The squad is returning ten members of last year’s record setting season, five of whom were starters. Two seniors leading the Cyclone charge are all-Regional outside hitters Kirstin Hugdahl and Steph McCannon.

Iowa State will continue to run an aggressive offense of quick hits and powerful slams centered around the two stars.

“Kirstin and Steph will be an enormous part of our offense,” said Nunez. “They are our main hitters, and unfortunately a lot of the wins and losses ultimately fall on the performance of the outside hitters.”

Other vital roles in the Cyclone offense are filled by senior Dana Mucha and junior Rachelle Freese, both middle hitters. Both players were instrumental to last year’s team.

The right side duties have been given to junior Sonya VanHeldon, who took over for veteran Steph Green. Green decided not to continue this season because of injuries.

“We have a faster offense this season. We hope to pick up the tempo of play,” said Nunez.

With the absence of Kary Law, last year’s setter and team co-captain, junior Jen Lansink “has the nod” to run this year’s show.

“Jen led our team to a great showing in the spring. She is setting better than she ever has right now,” Nunez said. “With her lead, at any given time our team is capable of extraordinary things.”

Along with experienced players returning, Nunez has depth in the younger ranks.

Julie McGrath, a freshman setter who has many high school accolades, is “doing well,” according to Nunez. Colleen Henicken, a red shirt last year, is another new face fans will see on the court this season.

“Our team training started on August 8 and Julie has developed quickly since then. She needs to get more technically consistent, however,” Nunez said. “Colleen will add depth to the right side position for us.”

“Reaching new heights,” are the three words Coach Nunez used to describe the upcoming season which starts Sept. 1 and 2 in Hilton Coliseum. ISU plays host to three other teams that weekend in the Cyclone Volleyball Tournament.

“I’m excited to get started. We are a much improved team from last year,” Nunez said. “I’m not going to make any promises, all I can say is we’ll do our best to push into the top twenty and make it to the NCAA’s.”