Volleyball Starts Big 12 Play This Weekend at Hilton

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AMES, Iowa - After three long weeks, the Iowa State volleyball team finally returns to Hilton Coliseum for their first set of Big 12 Conference matches of 2021. The Cyclones will take on TCU Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.

Join the Cyclones

Tickets to both of this weekend's ISU matches (and all Iowa State home matches) are on sale now and can be bought, here. Tickets can also be purchased prior to the match, starting one hour before first serve, at the Hilton Coliseum Ticket Office at the southwest corner of Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State students can get in for free at the North Entrance of Hilton Coliseum.

Follow the Cyclones

Both matches will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. For more information, click here. Live stats for both matches can be accessed, here.

Weekend Promotions

It is "5 for $5 Friday" for the first match of the weekend against the Horned Frogs. In advance, fans can purchase five general admission tickets for $5 ($1 each). The "5 for $5" deal can be accessed, here, and can only be purchased at the specific link and cannot be redeemed/requested at the Hilton Coliseum Ticket Office on the day of the match.

Friday's match will also be the first "Volleyball Bingo" night of the season. Fans can pick up Bingo cards at the doors upon arrival and play during the match for a chance to win prizes.

For Iowa State students, Friday's match will be the first "Cyclone Crazies" match. Students will receive a punch card that can be punched at three matches (Friday vs. TCU, 10/30 vs. West Virginia, 11/11 vs. Kansas State). For each punch, students will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an Iowa State prize. Students who get all three punches will receive an exclusive Iowa State Volleyball item at the Nov. 11 match against K-State. Students can also get free chips and salsa as part of International Students Night.

Saturday's match will serve as Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Iowa State Faculty and Staff members can buy two tickets for the price of one, here.

Iowa State trading cards will be given out to the first 500 fans in attendance. Iowa State will also host a post-match autograph session with the entire team West of Hilton Coliseum in the Scheman Building courtyard.

Iowa State students will get free pizza on Saturday.

Last Time Out

Iowa State closed out non-conference play with a 1-1 weekend at the Diet Coke Classic in Minneapolis. The Cyclones picked up a 3-0 victory over St. Thomas on Friday before falling to then-No. 11 Minnesota in three sets on Saturday night. Despite the loss, Iwoa State's defense put up a strong performance against the Golden Gophers, recording 10.0 blocks on the evening, led by six from Candelaria Herrera. Herrera has also been one of ISU's to[p offensive threats, posting 2.61 kills per set at a team-best .351 hitting. Eleanor Holthaus leads Iowa State's hitters with 3.29 kills per set at .274 hitting.

About TCU

The TCU Horned Frogs come into the Big 12 opener at 6-4 on the season. In their most recent match, the Frogs fell in five sets to SMU in Fort Worth, putting up 12.0 total blocks but being blocked 18.0 total times by the Mustangs. Jill Kramer's squad is led offensively by 3.20 kills per set from Julia Adams, while middle MyKayla Myers gets her 2.34 kills per set at .378 hitting. TCU is one of the top blocking teams in the country, ranking fifth in NCAA Division I at 3.17 blocks per set. Myers and fellow middle Madilyn Cole are tied atop the Big 12 at 1.51 blocks per set.

ISU leads the all-time series 15-3, including a 7-1 record in Ames. TCU's only victory at Hilton Coliseum came in five sets in 2016. Iowa State is on a four-match win streak against TCU heading into the weekend, tied for its longest win-streak in series history. ISU won both meetings in Fort Worth last season, with Eleanor Holthaus tying her career-high with 22 kills at .486 hitting in the second match.