Earlier this season, the ISU volleyball team traveled to Norman, Okla., and had one of its best matches of the year against the Sooners.

The match was highly competitive, as three out of the fours sets were decided by three or fewer points. The Cyclones also had four players tally at least 10 kills. Morgan Kuhrt and Alexis Conaway led the way with 17 kills and collectively hit .259 percent against Oklahoma.

“Each of the four games were very close, but that match was one of our best Big 12 matches this season,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch.

Although the Cyclones had one of its best matches against Oklahoma, it is coming off one of its worst performances of the year against the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum. 

When Iowa State took on Kansas, it’s performance withered throughout the match.

Iowa State won the first set against Kansas, 25-20, while hitting .370 percent. But after the first set, it all went downhill for the Cyclones. Their hitting percentage fell to as low as .125. 

Not only did Iowa State’s hitting percentage decrease throughout the match, but its serving and passing were also subpar.

“We are known for serving and passing,” said ISU libero Caitlin Nolan. “But [Kansas] put a lot of pressure on us in that area.”

During the match against the Jayhawks, the Cyclones committed more than 30 errors, eventually losing the match 3-1. So after such a poor performance, Iowa State will attempt to clean up what it is known to do best.

“After this match [against Kansas], we are definitely going to focus on serving and passing,” Nolan said.

In the Cyclones’ first match this season against the Sooners, they committed only 24 attacking errors on 180 total attacks, along with seven serving errors.

Another way Iowa State can replicate its success against Oklahoma from earlier this season is by spreading the attacking wealth.

“[Kuhrt and Conaway] had stellar performances down in Oklahoma,” Johnson-Lynch said. “But this time around, [Oklahoma] may focus on them more, so we have to find a way to combat that.”

The current hot hands for Iowa State are junior outside hitter Ciara Capezio and freshman Jess Schaben. They have been averaging 10 kills and 12 kills respectively during the past three matches.

“Every Big 12 game is going to be competitive,” Johnson-Lynch said. “So I don’t expect this match to be a cakewalk.”

The Cyclones will take on the Sooners at 12 p.m. Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.