There are no ties in volleyball, but there absolutely is overtime. As of late, the Cyclones have thrived in such high pressured situations.

The same as in many sports, one point is not a margin large enough to signify victory on the volleyball court. Each set must be won by at least two points-a requirement that frequently leads to games extending beyond the standard 25-point mark.

Iowa State played one such game in the third set at home against Oklahoma on Oct. 11. The match was tied at 1-1 when the Cyclones rallied from four points down late to claim a third set victory, 28-26.

The late rally proved to be the victory’s catalyst, as the Cyclones fended off five set points for the Sooners on their way to a 2-1 lead. The Cyclones then dropped the hammer in the fourth, sending the Sooners back to Oklahoma empty handed.

Yet, the team apparently had not experienced enough drama.

The first two sets of Iowa State’s most recent match versus South Dakota also went to extra points before ultimately being decided.

The Cyclones took both sets one and two by a score of 26-24, again using the momentum from the close victories to crush their opponent in the final set of the match, 25-17.

If Iowa State can keep pulling out the close ones, its mini-winning streak could develop into something considerably more tangible at a point in the season that freshman hitter Alexis Conaway described as “critical.”

Next up for Iowa State is Texas Tech. First serve is set for 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 18 in Lubbock, Texas.