November has become ISU volleyball’s favorite month in recent history.

Last season, the Cyclones reeled off seven straight wins, four of which came in November, and have found similar late-season momentum this time around.

ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said this year’s squad is much different than last year’s, but she has noticed her team has carried on the trend of playing its best volleyball in the latter stages of the regular season.

“I do think over the years we’ve tended to play our best ball in November,” Johnson-Lynch said of her team that is 4-1 this month with its only loss against RPI No. 2 Texas. “I think that’s something we’ve kind of become known for, so hopefully that’s part of it. We’ve had a few seasons when our teams have really gone on a tear in November and really built up a lot of momentum, I think that’s where this team’s at.”

During Iowa State’s current four-game win streak, the RPI No. 15 Cyclones (15-9, 7-6 Big 12) racked up their first conference road victories at West Virginia and Oklahoma and defeated two teams ranked in the top 25 at the time of the match, No. 22 Kansas State and No. 24 Oklahoma.

With confidence stemming from the team’s newfound success after it switched from a 5-1 offense to a 6-2 late in its match against Texas on Nov. 2, Johnson-Lynch insisted that there is still work left to be done in her team’s three remaining regular season matches.

“We’ve still got a long ways to go and some things we’ve got to work on and get better at,” Johnson-Lynch said. “So, like I said, I’m thrilled that we’ve been having this success and we are building some momentum into the NCAA’s, but yet, at the same time, we’ve got to face reality because we still have some things we’ve got to work on.”

Next on the docket for Iowa State to work on is in preparation for its next match at RPI No. 16 Kansas (19-7, 7-5 Big 12).

Less than a month ago on Oct. 22, the Cyclones defeated the Jayhawks 3-2 in a tightly-contested match at Hilton Coliseum that saw Caitlin Nolan come up with a career performance.

Her 43 digs in that match tied the Big 12 record for digs in a match, though she was quick to credit her teammates up front for her success.

“I think the blockers just had a really great night just setting up the block and they made it really easy to play defense,” Nolan said.

For Iowa State to prevail once again, the key for the blockers, as well as the rest of the defense, will be to slow down Kansas’ offense that ranks first in the conference in kills per set (13.81) and third in hitting percentage (.240).

The Jayhawks run a double quick offense that will provide a unique challenge for Iowa State’s defense with two attackers working alongside a setter to open up a variety of offensive options.

“They run a pretty quick offense…” Johnson-Lynch said. “It’s very hard to slow down both, so if they’re passing really well it’s very difficult to slow down.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the team is looking to add more creativity to its attacks and avoid running predictable sets that would feed into a Kansas defense that ranks second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage at .188.

“I think our attack decisions in general,” sophomore outside hitter Ciara Capezio said of the keys for the hitters. “A lot of the times, me in general, I like to just wail at it, but that’s not always the smart decision. I think it’s just knowing when to go for it.”

With a victory, Iowa State would pass Kansas in the Big 12 standings and would inch closer to Oklahoma and Kansas State, who are in a tie for second at 8-5 in conference play.

First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center in Lawrence, Kan.