Iowa State will kick off its season with the Rumble in the Rockies event starting Friday. The Cyclones are focused on their own development as a rousing first weekend approaches.

With the Cardinal and Gold scrimmage and Missouri exhibition match in the books, the Cyclones will look to let loose in the regular season.

“I’m just really excited to get out there this season, you know, just preparing my body and setting myself up to go for actual game time,” said senior and preseason All-Big 12 right side Eleanor Holthaus.

Friday will be Holthaus’ fifth season-opener. She’s been through all the various tribulations of competing as a student-athlete. With multiple seasons of experience under her belt, Holthaus aims to act as a guide for a young but talented group of freshmen.

“It’s just a different pace of life, you know, you’re away from your family, you got this balance of school, volleyball and your social life,” Holthaus said. “So, I know what it’s like, and for me, I want to help them be able to adjust and balance that in any way that I can.”

The freshmen on the roster will play an important role this upcoming season. With the loss of veteran talents such as Candelaria Herrera and Marija Popovic, fresh faces on the team will be depended on more than in previous years.

“I think having our Cardinal and Gold scrimmage helps; also, playing Missouri helps kind of get those butterflies out and learn what it’s like to play in front of these crowds,” said head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch.

Looking forward, the Cyclones will face No. 18 ranked Creighton and Wyoming on Friday, followed by Wichita State on Saturday. Creighton, in particular, will be a test of Iowa State’s strength right off the bat.

Creighton is coming off a school-record 31-win season and will return four starters. Iowa State, which went 16-12 last season, will face a challenging opponent early. Wyoming and Wichita State will provide the opportunity to earn a couple of wins after a challenging season opener.

Coming away with a winning record may constitute a successful weekend for fans, but Johnson-Lynch is more focused on developing her young team.

“I would be pleased to see us make it tougher for opponents to get kills,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think our setters, just being able to locate the ball and get our hitters in good rhythm, would be great.”

Iowa State will open the season with Creighton Friday in Laramie, Wyoming, at 11 a.m. The Cyclones also compete against Wyoming Friday at 8 p.m. and finish the weekend with Wichita State at 2 p.m. Saturday.