Volleyball:

Iowa State head volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch has built a consistent NCAA Tournament team in her 14 years on the job for the Cyclones. Under Johnson-Lynch’s leadership, the Cyclones have gone from being basement-dwellers to having made the NCAA Tournament 12 straight seasons, one of only 11 volleyball programs to do so.

Last season, the Cyclones roared to a 22-7 record, finishing 11-5 in Big 12 play and making the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Wisconsin. One of those 22 wins was a road victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

Iowa State returns a lot of frontline production, led by senior outside hitter Jess Schaben. Schaben spent a portion of the summer with the U.S. Collegiate National Team as they went to Europe. Schaben led the team in kills last year with 338, at an average of 3.31 per set.

Also returning is Preseason All-Big 12 middle blocker and senior Grace Lazard. The London native had a .279 hitting percentage last season and was third on the team in kills with 246.

The Cyclones add four new freshmen for the 2018 season: DS/Libero Taylor Baranski, setter Jenna Brandt, outside hitter Brooke Andersen and right side Eleanor Holthaus. All four newcomers come from high schools in the Midwest.

Iowa State’s regular schedule begins with the Iowa State invitational, which starts on Aug. 24. The Cyclones will play three games against Ole Miss, Oregon State and Virginia in the season-opening event.

Other key non-conference games are the Aug. 29 meeting with Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, a meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska with defending national champions Nebraska and the annual Cy-Hawk game against Iowa, which will be part of the Cyclone Classic on Sept. 14.

Big 12 play begins on Sept. 19 with a trip to Morgantown, W. Va., to take on the Mountaineers.

Cross Country:

Returning production is crucial for any collegiate team. Starting over with little experience can lead to rebuilding seasons.

Returning experience is what will be so important to the Iowa State cross country team — both men’s and women’s — this fall, as two young teams made one of the best NCAA Championships runs in Iowa State history.

Director of Iowa State cross country Martin Smith has been coaching since 1979, and his experience has helped the men’s cross country program complete a quick turnaround in the past five seasons.

After not going to the NCAA Championships since 2009, Smith was able to get the Cyclones there in 2016, where the Cyclones finished in a tie for 16th. The men’s team will return every single runner from the 2017 season, including all four top-100 finishers in the NCAA Championships.

The Cyclones built on that success by making a strong run (excuse the pun) in 2017, led by now-redshirt sophomore Thomas Pollard. Pollard grabbed All-Big 12 honors for the second straight season and finished in the top-100 at the NCAA Championships.

Speaking of returning production, Iowa State cross country is looking to make its case as the best men’s/women’s tandem in the country. Coming off of a NCAA Championships appearance, and keeping in step with the men’s squad, the women’s cross country team does not lose a single top-7 contributor from the 2017 team either.

The Cyclone women finished 20th at the NCAA Championships under the direction of women’s cross country coach Andrea Grove-McDonough, the former head coach and former runner at Minnesota. Grove-McDonough left for North Carolina in late July, and she was replaced by Drake assistant Amy Rudolph. Callie Logue and Anna Frisbee both finished in the top-100 at the NCAA Championships, and Logue had four top-5 finishes in six events.

Having gained valuable experience in both squads, the Cyclones’ cross country teams have a very good chance to be the best teams in Iowa State’s fall sports lineup.

Soccer:

Can you say injuries?

You name it, Iowa State soccer probably had it last season.

The Cyclones suffered numerous key injuries in 2017 that played a huge role in their 3-12-3 record, the worst of head coach Tony Minatta’s four-year stint in Ames.

The 2017 downturn came just a year after the Cyclones went 10-8-1 and nearly made the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa State had a very young core last season, with all but four players returning for 2018. Some, including freshman breakout Courtney Powell, still have three years of eligibility remaining and gained valuable experience.

Junior midfielder Hannah Cade was the Cyclones’ main creative outlet in a 4-4-2 scheme that had to be adjusted because of injury, but now she’ll find herself in the No. 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 formation that Minatta prefers.

Other key returnees in the Cyclones’ attack include seniors Brooke Tasker, a left winger with speed, and Klasey Medelberg, the Cyclones’ leading scorer and a solid returning No. 9. Senior center back Jordan Enga will be the anchor of Iowa State’s back line alongside, presumably, sophomore Shealyn Sullivan.

On the flanks, full backs Riley Behan, Merin Mundt and McKenna Schultz will fight for playing time. Further forward, senior Brianna Curtis, Tasker, junior Tegan Alexander and sophomore Tavin Hays will all be in play for winger positions. The Cyclones are not lacking for options out wide.

In midfield, Marin Daniel’s expected return from injury will steel up the defensive roles, along with Emily Steil and Taylor Wagner. The Cyclones were often strong in midfield last season in their counter-attacking style, but coach Minatta has said that the Cyclones will look to be more expansive when they can, especially with a healthy roster.

Iowa State will also be adding nine new players for the 2018 season, padding depth in every area of the field while also upping the competition in practice.

Keep an eye out for the Cyclones this season. If they can stay healthy, Iowa State can be a team to watch for in the Big 12.