The ISU volleyball team is coming off a loss against the No. 10 Kansas Jayhawks, which was the third loss against a top-10 team this season for the Cyclones.

In each of the three losses against top-10 teams [No. 4 Nebraska, No. 3 Texas and No. 10 Kansas], Iowa State played tough in the first set, but after those first sets, the Cyclones’ statistics were meeker.

“[Against Kansas] statistically speaking, we were right with them,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch.

To get over the hump and finally beat a top-10 team this season, Johnson-Lynch and the Cyclones just need to keep on getting better. Johnson-Lynch said ISU volleyball plays at its best in the second half of the season.

Almost halfway through the year, the team is ready to hit that peak — assuming a few improvements. 

“We are a good team now, but we want to be a great team a month from now,” Johnson-Lynch said. “And to become that great team, we have to clean up some aspects of our game.”

The Cyclones will have a chance to claim a victory against a top-ranked team either Oct. 28, when they take on the Jayhawks for the second time, or Nov. 14, when they take on the Longhorns — both of which are home games. 

“We are not that far off from being a great team,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Hot-hand Kuhrt

Johnson-Lynch has stressed all year that the Cyclones will feed whoever has the hot hand for the team. As of recent, it seems like redshirt senior Morgan Kuhrt is the player on fire.

In Iowa State’s past four matchups, Kuhrt has either led or tied the team lead in kills. Kuhrt had a career high 17 kills against Oklahoma. Her next performance included 11 kills against Texas, nine kills against Kansas State and 12 kills against Kansas.

“[Kuhrt] is a very steady player for us this year,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Iowa State primarily plays Kuhrt as the right-side hitter position, but the Cyclones have also used her in different ways.

For example, Iowa State uses Kuhrt’s versatility on a two-ball. The two-ball is when Kuhrt comes up the middle and hits the ball out of nowhere.

“I am not shocked that Kuhrt has led us in kills these past four matches,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She is very smart, good player.”

Tough TCU

Last season, TCU was one of the toughest opponents for Iowa State and it won’t be any easier this time around.

In 2014, the Horned Frogs won the match in Fort Worth, Texas, in four sets. The game in Ames leaned the other direction, with the Cyclones taking it in five sets. 

“[TCU] is a good team,” Johnson-Lynch said. “They are fighting to get into the NCAA tournament, and a win against ISU would help them get there.”

In this year’s matchup against TCU, Iowa State will have to deal with the Horned Frogs’ 6-2 system.

The Cyclones have a long week to prepare for the Horned Frogs’ deadly attack before Saturday’s match, but that’s not the only thing Iowa State will be focusing on.

“Several of our players have said they are fatigued,” Johnson-Lynch said. “So this long week will help our team get healthy.”