Following a successful stretch of home matches, Iowa State will face off against Northern Iowa Tuesday in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will aim to keep their positive momentum rolling as the non-conference slate comes to a close.

Although the volleyball team is nine matches into the season, there is still a certain level of fluidity roster-wise. The goal is to get a group of players narrowed down by conference play, but the roster has shown plenty of versatility. 

“I don’t know if I’ve been so much coaching in the match; I’ve been just sitting looking at where combos of people might be effective,” head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said following Iowa State’s win over Wright State. 

Fatigue, injuries and roster experimentation allowed various players to get time on the court.

“We’ve seen a lot of different bodies out there, a lot of different players, and I think we’ve had a lot of different people step up which is wonderful,” Johnson-Lynch said.

One of those players is sophomore Allie Petry, who saw significant playing time at the libero position in Iowa State’s previous match against Wright State. She made the most of her opportunity as she led the team in digs in Iowa State’s 3-1 victory. 

Both teams are coming off a stellar weekend at home. Iowa State secured a Cardinal and Gold Challenge sweep, while Northern Iowa won its own UNI Tournament, beating Western Michigan, Southeast Missouri State and GCU. The Cyclones will have the home-court advantage again, where they remain undefeated on the season. 

“Our fans definitely are the best ever. They really play with our momentum, our energy on the court,” Petry said. 

Iowa State has fared well against in-state competition, taking down both Drake and Iowa. A win over Northern Iowa would secure an in-state sweep, but the Cyclones view the opportunity as just another match. 

“I think that’s always the goal every year is to win your state championship of the Iowa schools, but you can’t put too much into any one match,” Johnson-Lynch said. 

The approach, similar to the Iowa matchup, will be to settle down emotions and keep the hype to a minimum. 

According to Johnson-Lynch, Iowa State will focus on different systems and roster combos as well as improving discipline and ball control. Northern Iowa will be another challenging opponent, but the Cyclones will look to continue their home winning streak. 

Iowa State will face off against the Panthers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Hilton Coliseum.