Manns Leaves Impact on ISU Volleyball

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State volleyball has had the most successful four-year stretch in program history. The nation's perennial top-tier collegiate volleyball programs typically lean on a steady setting game. It is no coincidence that the Cyclones, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation, are now a high-profile team. The team's setting duties are handled by none other than senior Kaylee Manns.

Manns, a 2008 AVCA Second-Team All-American and Big 12 First Team honoree, has set a standard of consistency for ISU that may be impossible to match again. She has started 93 consecutive matches at setter for the Cyclones. ISU holds a .688 winning percentage in that time, which includes trips to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

Manns, a native of Topeka, Kan., has been an important cog in head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch's scheme for success. Johnson-Lynch has seen Manns' leadership pay dividends for Cyclone squad.

“Setters are involved in nearly every play,” Johnson-Lynch said. “If they aren't setting it, that probably means they dug the ball. They have so much decision-making responsibility. I would say Kaylee is an extension of the coaches on the floor. She has to direct the offense, and even sometimes the defense, on what adjustments to make. Setters don't just need to just know their position. They need to know everybody else's position, too.”

There is a definite connection between solid setting and winning volleyball matches. A former setter at Nebraska, Johnson-Lynch led Nebraska to a 63-2 mark, the second-best winning percentage of any setter in Nebraska history.

Johnson-Lynch has seen Manns' consistency improve to even higher levels in her four seasons as a Cyclone.

“I think it is a little bit of an evolution,” Johnson-Lynch said. “For the first couple of years, it was about set location. If you can get to the ball and deliver it the same way every time, you can become a great setter.

“The last couple of years have been more about her mental consistency,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think Kaylee would probably tell you last season she was a little up and down in focus. We have continued to talk and work on her being ready every day for practice and that would carry over into being ready for every match.”

ISU's current setter's focus has been on target this season, as ISU stands at 24-4. Manns has distanced herself record-wise from any other Iowa Stater in program history. She holds the all-time assists mark by a wide margin, outpacing Cyclone great Lisa Burke (1988-91) 5,490 to 4,406 with one regular season match and the postseason left in her final campaign. That mark stands at fourth in Big 12 history.

Iowa State's volleyball squad is making a name for itself as a defensively-sound unit. The ISU defensive effort is holding opponent's to a .147 hitting percentage. If the season were to end today, the mark would go down as the best in program history.

The old adage that “defense wins championships” couldn't be more true for the ISU volleyball team's focus this season and Manns plays a large role in the effort.

“I would say a lot of setters have a weakness in their defense,” Johnson-Lynch said. “But for Kaylee, I'd say that is one of her strengths. That is what makes her unique and special. I think she is one of the best defensive setters in the country. She's great at defense and makes very quick reactions. There are times when it is very hard to get the ball down on her. She is very unique in that way.”

To date this season, Manns is the only setter to garner Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

She received the honor for her work in the week of Oct. 12 for her efforts on the road against Oklahoma (Oct. 7) and Kansas (Oct. 10). Against OU, Manns recorded 46 assists and tied a career-high with 23 digs. She added three kills on four attempts, a service ace and three block assists in the Cyclones' first win in Norman since 2005.

Against Kansas, she notched 34 more assists and tallied nine digs, a solo block and four block assists. Manns also had four kills on six swings and a service ace.

Proving her versatility, Manns is on the cusp of becoming the first player in Big 12 history to record 5,500 assists, 1,000 digs, 300 kills and 300 blocks. Her impact is felt in all aspects of a match, just like her impact has been felt throughout the Cyclone volleyball program.

“As she has improved, the program has improved,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I think Kaylee has been the perfect setter at the perfect time at Iowa State. We needed a setter that was going to come in and not be afraid to take on the big dogs. I don't know if a lot of setters could have come in and done what she's done, because of her attitude and the way that she plays. She has been a perfect fit for our program and exactly what we needed to improve.”

Cyclone fans have one last chance to see Manns play her final regular season home match in Hilton Coliseum Nov. 28 as ISU takes the court against Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Kaylee Manns

Kaylee Manns

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