The last time the Nebraska Cornhuskers traveled to Hilton Coliseum to play the ISU volleyball team was in 2012.

The Cornhuskers were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time and the end result of the match would go down in ISU history. 

The Cyclones pulled off the biggest win in program history. 

“It was one of the craziest games of my career,” said senior Caitlin Nolan, who was a freshman at the time.

Nebraska came into the match as the powerhouse in the NCAA that season while Iowa State just cracked the top 25.

At the end of the match, Iowa State pulled off the upset in four sets (25-23. 25-22, 20-25, 25-17). It was the first time the Cyclones have ever beaten the top-ranked team in the nation.

Coming off a clean sweep against Northern Iowa, the Cyclones only have a two-day window to prepare against the Cornhuskers.

“We already have looked at some of their game film,” said ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “And I can tell you that they are good.”

Although Nebraska is not ranked No. 1 this time around, Iowa State still has a chance to recreate history.

This time, the Cornhuskers are walking into Hilton with the No. 4 ranking to go along with an 8-1 record, the only loss coming to Big 12 preseason favorites — the Texas Longhorns. On the other side, Iowa State is heading into the Nebraska matchup with a 7-3 record and is currently outside of the top 25, looking in.

“Last time we played Nebraska at home, neither team was hitting well,” Johnson-Lynch said.

When the Cyclones last played the Cornhuskers at Hilton, they held Nebraska to a .216 hitting percentage and 58 kills. During this year’s match, the Cornhuskers’ offensive ability is expected to produce better results.

So far this season, Nebraska is averaging a .314 hitting percentage, which is ranked fourth in the nation. They also average 14.79 kills per set, which is ranked sixth in the nation.

Iowa State’s exceptional defense this season may be enough to hold off the relentless Nebraska attack. 

The Cyclones have held opponents to a .188 attacking percentage and 11.9 kills per set this season.

“Our defense has got to be at a whole different level, as Nebraska is a very physical team,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Iowa State might have a little extra motivation this weekend against the top-ranked opponent. 

Johnson-Lynch had an accomplished college career at Nebraska, as she helped lead the Cornhuskers to a 63-2 record during her junior and senior years in Lincoln. She was also an assistant coach at Nebraska when it won the 2000 NCAA Volleyball Championship.

“[Johnson-Lynch] approaches this game like all the other games,” Nolan said. “She just prepares us to win.”

The Cornhuskers will test the Cyclones and should provide a great barometer for Iowa State’s progression early in the year.

“This match will tell us a lot about what to expect for the rest of the season,” Johnson-Lynch said.

The Cyclones will take the court against the Cornhuskers at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.