The Big 12 championship hopes are still alive for Iowa State as well as a high NCAA tournament bid. The Cyclones will face No. 3 Texas to potentially get one step closer to their end goal.

Iowa State is near the end of its regular season and the team is now fixated on Texas. 

“Texas is a tough match no matter where you’re playing,” said junior Suzanne Horner. “Luckily, we have Hilton to help us, but we’re going to need exceptional play to beat them this weekend.”

The Cyclones played the Longhorns in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 3 and were swept in three sets. Now, the team is aware of the tendencies and can go after the Longhorns’ weaknesses to try and earn the victory Saturday.

ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said there are many things that need to be improved to beat Texas, but one key area was passing and serving. The team needs to serve better to catch the Longhorns off guard and win a few easier points.

Iowa State’s middle blockers must also be more effective shutting down Texas outside hitter Amy Neal. Neal had 11 kills and a .390 hitting percentage in the first matchup.

Johnson-Lynch’s final concern is the middle blockers of the Longhorns.

“They have a very good slide attack with their physical middle blockers,” Johnson-Lynch said. “The blockers are touching well over the basketball rim, so we need to slow them as much as possible.”

Texas is ranked third in the country in the Ratings Percentage Index rankings, and a victory would help Iowa State’s chances in the Big 12 and NCAA tournament. The Cyclones are two games behind Texas and one game behind Kansas in the Big 12 standings with three conference matches remaining in their regular season.

A win against the Longhorns would help the Cyclones inch their way closer to a Big 12 championship. 

“Texas is definitely beatable. [Texas Christian] showed that by beating them at home,” said outside hitter Natalie Vondrak. “Since we just beat TCU, it gives us more confidence knowing we have a team that could defeat Texas.”