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Iowa State University Athletics
NCAA Elite Eight VB Program; 100 Percent Grad Rate
08.06.2012 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa - Volleyball practice for the 2012 season begins at Iowa State on Wednesday. The Phoenix-like rise of the Cyclone volleyball program on the court is well-known. That a program, which before the arrival of its head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch had a Big 12 all-time record of 13-167, is in the midst of a string of six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In the last five seasons, Iowa State has been to the NCAA Elite twice and the Sweet Sixteen four times. Iowa State has posted a 113-47 (.706) overall record and 65-31 (.678) in the Big 12.
The true depth and foundation of the program however, can't be found on the court or among the 14 All-America citations earned by Johnson-Lynch's players. What separates Iowa State's volleyball program from its peers is that its achievements off the court exceed its laudable collegiate athletic record. In total, every Iowa State volleyball player coached by Johnson-Lynch has graduated. Every single one. That's right, the program's graduation rate under Johnson-Lynch is 100 percent.
In the short term, the team that finished one match from the Final Four in 2011 compiled a 3.60 grade-point average. If there was a team cum laude award, the Cyclone volleyball team would be on top of the podium.
The culture for focus on the present academic challenges in preparation for life after volleyball starts at the top. Johnson-Lynch was the setter on Nebraska's 1995 NCAA championship team. But she was more than that. A math education major, Johnson-Lynch was a second-team Academic All-American.
"I grew up in a family that valued hard work," Johnson-Lynch said. "Academics were a priority. There was social time. But there was sacrifice too. I hung with people who liked to go to school."
Johnson-Lynch has never forgotten that lesson. Nor has associate head coach Dawn Sullivan, who was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 selection while being one of the greatest players in conference history at Kansas State.
"Encouragement from your best players can set the tone for the entire team academically," Johnson-Lynch said. "There is a team-wide feeling that just as you don't want to let your teammates down on the court, you don't want to let your teammates down on all counts."
Success breeds more success.
"As we improved, we became more selective on who were recruiting, not just as athletes but as students," Johnson-Lynch said. "As a rule, the student-athletes in our sport come to Iowa State with strong credentials in athletics and academics."
Laura Cady-Lane, who graduated from Iowa State in 2008, concurs with her former coach.
"Obviously academics come first," Cady-Lane said. "It was very important to all of us on the team. Christy and the coaches really emphasized that we do well in the classroom and allowed for us to take extra time if we needed it, so a lot of credit goes to them."
The focus remains there today. Middle blocker Taylor Knuth is a senior.
"It is understood by the players that our first job is academics," Knuth said. "If we need to go to class or a study session and leave practice early, our coaches are understanding and flexi
Jamie Straube is another Cyclone in her fourth year.
"I bring the same competitiveness that I have on the court into the classroom," Straube said. "I feel the same attitude going into a test as I do going into a big game. On the team, we motivate each other both in class and on the court, and our coaches are very understanding if we are a little bit late to practice or have to leave early for class work. Having that support behind you really makes it easy to work hard in both settings."
The support is reciprocated achievement of both short term and long term success. Make no doubt, it comes from the top.
2011
Kristen Hahn, First Team
Carly Jenson, First Team
Alison Landwehr, First Team
Caitlin Mahoney, First Team
Kelsey Petersen, First Team
Debbie Stadick, First Team
Jamie Straube, First Team
Hannah Willms, First Team
Rachel Hockaday, Second Team
Tenisha Matlock, Second Team
2010
Jamie Straube, First Team
Cassie Pratt, First Team
Caitlin Mahoney, Second Team
2009
Diane Kieger, First Team
Kaylee Manns, First Team
2008
Diane Kieger, First Team
Kaylee Manns, First Team
Amy Vos, First Team
Mary Bisenius, Second Team
2007
Erin Boeve, First Team
Lauren Cummings, First Team
Diane Kieger, First Team
Amy Vos, First Team
Mary Bisenius, Second Team
Kaylee Manns, Second Team
2006
Erin Boeve, First Team
Nicole Lorenzen, First Team
Laura Cady, Second Team
Katie Jessen, Second Team
2005
Katie Kruenegel, First Team
Nicole Lorenzen, First Team
Ashlie McWee, First Team
Amanda Craig, Second Team
Katie Jessen, Second Team
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballVB Replay KU at ISU 2025
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