Even as football season creeps forward for Iowa State, on Tuesday the attention was on another Cyclone team.

While the football team heads into 2018 with maybe the highest expectations ever, the Iowa State volleyball team also heads into the season with high expectations as well.

Unlike the Iowa State football team, Christy Johnson-Lynch and the volleyball team have built a reputation for consistent success.

The trend continued for Iowa State’s volleyball team with the No. 21 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll released last week.

“I would’ve probably expected us to be in the top 25, at least in preseason because we do return so much,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think people recognized that, so it’s good to see that and good to get that acknowledgement. Beyond that, like we always say, it doesn’t really matter until we play.”

Iowa State hasn’t been ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll since 2015. Last season, the Cyclones jumped into the top 25 after one week and stuck in the rankings for the rest of the season, finishing No. 25 at the end of the year.

The Cyclones will have to fight to hang on to their ranking with a stout non-conference schedule that Johnson-Lynch scheduled to challenge Iowa State.

“I did schedule pretty tough this year because I felt like we can handle it,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think we have great senior leadership. I think we have enough returning. Right off the bat, we’re playing some pretty good teams.

“We try to always schedule tough, some years are a little tougher and I feel like this is a group that is ready for it. It’ll be really fun to play some of those really physical teams I think that we’ll matchup with that are going to be pretty similar to us.”

A few of those physical teams Johnson-Lynch mentioned were fellow-ranked teams No. 2 Nebraska, No. 13 Creighton and No. 19 Utah, along with Wichita State, who received votes.

Outside the beefed up non-conference schedule, Iowa State will face Big 12 opponents No. 3 Texas, No. 16 Baylor and Kansas, who received votes.

“I think this is one of our toughest schedules that I’ve been a part of,” said senior outside hitter Jess Schaben. “They’re always tough, but I feel like this year each weekend we’re going to be playing someone who is rated within the top 25.”

Schaben mentioned the team’s received a boost from the incoming freshman class and transfer Candelaria Herrera, and the senior expects the newcomers to help Iowa State stay fresh in the early parts of the season.

Herrera is not only adjusting to expectations of playing for a ranked team, but also playing on a team in a power five conference.

The outside hitter transferred from Florida A&M last season, seeking an opportunity to play for a more competitive school.

“My old conference was not very good, but I had a good learning [experience],” Herrera said. “Here, I’m so excited for the level [of quality] that we have [in] the team, so I’m so excited for the season to start.”