Iowa State’s winning streak may be on the line against conference opponent Texas, who is ranked No. 8 in the nation in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, during their matchup at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Iowa State’s game against Texas will be the two teams’ second matchup of the season after Iowa State traveled to Austin, Texas on Oct. 6. At the time, Texas ranked No. 4 in the nation.

In the game, Texas won three sets to zero. With that being said, Iowa State had a higher hitting percentage, .302 to .286, and had more blocks, six to four.

Despite the loss, Jess Schaben, a senior outside hitter, said it was the first game where the team left the court proud of the performance they put forth.

Iowa State lost the sets 25-21, 25-22 and 25-21.

“We’ll try to find a couple more points in each set,” coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said. “That’s really what it was [in the loss].”

To win against Texas, Johnson-Lynch said the team needs to hit as well as they did in the first game, but believes better defense and serving can leverage more points in favor of the Cyclones.

Entering the game, Texas is 12-4 overall and 7-1 in the Big 12, while Iowa State is 11-10 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 play.

So far this season, Texas’ only loss in the Big 12 is to Kansas, who beat the Longhorns 3-1 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Iowa State is currently riding a three-game win-streak after downing Kansas State, TCU and after this past weekend then No. 22 Kansas.

Schaben said the win against Kansas State helped propel the team into more victories.

“I think anytime you can win on the road, and especially K-State ‘cause in past years its a hard place to play, and so anytime you can win there it just builds your confidence a little more,” Schaben said.

Against Kansas, the Cyclones won in straight sets against the Jayhawks in Lawrence.

In the game, Iowa State recorded 10 team blocks and hit a .253 hitting percentage while holding Kansas to a .075 hitting percentage through three sets.

For seniors Schaben and Grace Lazard, the win in Lawrence was the first of their careers against Kansas on the road.

When asked on what has changed for the team over the last couple games, setter Piper Mauck said she believes it has nothing to do with the team’s skill.

“I don’t think it’s anything to do with our skill, I think its just all mental,” Mauck said. “Our confidence, our communication, just trusting one another.”

Through Iowa State’s last five games, the team has been limiting opponents to a .170 hitting percentage. The Cyclones have been averaging three blocks a set during that span.

The team which recorded the highest hitting percentage against Iowa State during the five game span was Texas.

On the attack, Texas is anchored by Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Micaya White. White has averaged 15.6 kills per game the last five games with a .320 hitting percentage.

Her lowest kill total came against Iowa State were she had nine kills with a .292 hitting percentage.

To counter Texas’ elite attack, Mauck said the Cyclones have been making adjustments to their block and emphasized putting pressure on Texas with serves because Texas is a “weaker” passing team.

During the Kansas game, Johnson-Lynch said the team did well by putting pressure on Kansas with serves and by serving well it forced Kansas to play out of system for the entirety of the match.

If Iowa State is able to replicate the success they had against Kansas, the Cyclones will be able to take Texas out of their comfort zone and put the Longhorns on upset alert.