AMES – There is a lot of optimism amongst the Iowa State volleyball team heading into the 2024 season. The Cyclones are ready for a big year with lots in store.
At the helm of the operation is head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, who enters her 20th season as Iowa State’s head coach. Throughout her time in Ames, Johnson-Lynch has led the Cyclones to 16 NCAA tournaments, including last season when they lost to Hawaii in the first round.
To reach the tournament again, a lot has to happen, and that starts with the preparation and relationships of the team.
“We put some time into it to build those relationships off the court,” Johnson-Lynch said. “We’re still working through that. Some of these guys are new, but I feel like in terms of character and values of this team, this is as good as we’ve had.”
With a few new faces on the team, Iowa State still returns some familiar faces from last year, including Nayeli Gonzalez.
Last season, Gonzalez helped lead Iowa State to the NCAA tournament as a freshman. She was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team and the Big 12 All-Rookie team in 2023 and will look to expand on that in her sophomore year.
“I’d love for her to up her numbers just that little bit,” Johnson-Lynch said. “At the same time, I don’t want her to feel like she’s got to carry a load. She’s got a great team around her.”
Gonzalez expressed her excitement about the season, especially with the addition of Tierney Jackson, who transferred from West Virginia.
“[Jackson] is a very bubbly person,” Gonzalez said. “She’s very welcoming and warm and always wants to have a good time. She really wants to strive to be great.”
While in the portal, Jackson knew what type of program she wanted to be at, and decided that Iowa State was the right fit for her.
“Going through the transfer portal is super stressful,” Jackson said. “But, with already being in college for two years, I knew what I was looking for. I just tried to not waste anyone’s time and really stuck to what I wanted.”
Jackson arrived in Ames earlier this year and said she likes the culture of the town.
“I really like Ames,” Jackson said. “I know there’s a lot of support for women’s volleyball, and just women’s sports in general here. So, I’m just super excited to play in this environment and experience Hilton Magic.”
The two were assigned as roommates and clicked instantly. Their dynamic and friendship off the court is something they believe will help them and the entire group on the court.
During her two seasons at West Virginia, Jackson led the Mountaineers in blocks both times. Her experience at the net will be a benefit for the Cyclones, considering last season’s top blockers, Jordan Hopp and Alexis Engelbrecht, left due to graduation.
“She’s really coming along,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She’s a really fun personality.”
Another player to keep an eye on is Maya Duckworth. Duckworth was one of the top servers last season and was second to Gonzalez in kills. Her outlook on the season matches that of her teammates.
“I’m just excited to be back in the gym and playing with my favorite people,” Duckworth said.
With a lot of talent returning and joining, Iowa State should be in the mix to contend for the Big 12 championship. Oklahoma and reigning Big 12 champion Texas left for the SEC, which means there will be a new team atop the Big 12 in 2024.
“It feels way different. It feels very wide open, and that hasn’t happened for a while,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Texas has had a stranglehold on it for many, many years, so we feel like it’s a wide open race, and we want to be in that mix.”
The conference will still be sure to have many competitive teams, especially with the additions of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah from the Pac 12. With 16 teams vying to become Big 12 champions, Cyclone players believe they will have a strong chance.
“I feel really excited about playing these new people, and I feel like we have a good chance,” Gonzalez said. “Our team is looking great.”
To better prepare for the Big 12 slate, Iowa State has five Power Four schools on its schedule, including an exhibition against Minnesota and the annual Cy-Hawk game against Iowa.
“They’re going to tell us a lot about where we’re at,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Minnesota handled us pretty easily this spring, so it will be a really good test for us to see if we’re a little bit better this time around.”
Iowa State will travel to Minnesota for an exhibition on Aug. 24, before the regular season begins on Aug. 30 against the University of the Pacific in Las Vegas.
