Iowa State volleyball is on pace to record one of its best seasons in program history under Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. After 21 seasons, it’s safe to say that she knows her way around this sport.
The team is 13-2 this early in the season and on pace for one of its best starts since 1997, not to mention that more than five members entered this season with over four years of playing together.
On paper, you don’t see the team chemistry. When you watch the team in person, their energy is contagious. To quote Texas Tech head coach Tony Graystone, “they draw well and it’s a fun environment. [Iowa State]’s very good this year.”
With the support of Cyclone Nation, you had best believe this team will continue to work wonders and continue to make history.
The milestones of this season speak for themselves.
Senior setter Morgan Brandt reached the 3,000 assist mark after the Cyclones avoided a reverse sweep against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Coralville, Iowa.
Brandt was the fourth player in program history to reach the mark, following Lisa Burke from 1988-91, Kaylee Manns from 2006-09 and Alison Landwehr from 2009-12.
As of Oct. 4, 2025, senior outside hitter Maya Duckworth stands a mere 44 kills away from 1,000 in her career. Duckworth sits 15th in program history in kills.
If that’s not impressive enough for the average fan, then I don’t know what is.
Nebraska volleyball sold out Memorial Stadium. What’s stopping Iowa State?
On Aug. 30, 2023, the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s volleyball team set an attendance record of 92,003. Thanks to the size of the court, they not only sold out capacity in the stands, but also opened up the field level.
The Huskers set the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event that night. Sure, Ames doesn’t have a population of 92,000+. I will add, however, that the market in the Midwest for volleyball is bigger than ever.
To set the record straight, I’m not saying that Iowa State fans are any less loyal than the Nebraska faithful. I do, however, think that a scheduled matchup with Nebraska in the coming years has more positive consequences than negatives.
Attendance numbers speak for themselves.
For a program that is consistently winning, has only lost one game in the conference this season, is coming off of a down year and giving the fans what they want week-in and week-out, I don’t understand why there’s a curtain closing off half of the arena.
So, students, let me ask you this. You are given free tickets to every home match. Football is out of town for the next few weeks, so why not consider giving volleyball a chance?
