Iowa State to Host BYU in Big 12 Opener

Who: No. 28 Iowa State (0-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 26 BYU (3-6, 0-0 Big 12)

Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa

When: Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.

Leading Off: No. 28 Iowa State is set to welcome No. 26 BYU to Ames for its first Big 12 meet this Friday. The Cyclones are coming into this Big 12 showdown after posting a 196.150 in their last outing and will look to build off that momentum after having a midweek meet canceled.

Iowa State has an opportunity to tie up the all-time series against BYU with a win on Friday. They currently trail the Cougars 6-7-1, as the Cougars took the series lead in 2013, earning a victory in Provo.

Iowa State's last showing against Penn State – a 196.150 – matched the team's total outputs of 196-plus from last season as the team did so just once.

Storylines:

Iowa State fell on the road their last time out against Penn State 196.150-196.500
The Cyclones got two career highs from Hannah Loyim her last time out.
- Loyim scored a 9.825 on vault and 39.350 all around.
Noelle Adams stood out once again with a 9.900 score on vault. This marked Adams' second 9.900 just two meets into her college career.
Iowa State got another great showing on bars from senior Laura Cooke with her second-straight score of 9.850.
This meet marks the conference opener for both teams while also being BYU's first Big 12 meet since entering the conference.

From the Notes:

Iowa State had a very strong showing on vault against Penn State with every score being 9.825 or higher.
- The lineup consisted of Paige Wills, Hannah Loyim, Noelle Adams, Josie Bergstrom, Kaia Parker, and Emilie Hong.
Four freshmen compete for the Cyclones regularly, Noelle Adams, Lauren O'Brochta, Ella Schell, and Paige Wills.
ISU didn't score 196-plus until nine meets into last season. The 2024 Cyclones did so in just two meets.
Kaia Parker had a great showing in State College after posting a 9.850 on vault and a 9.875 on floor.

Switching Sides to BYU:

Head Coach Young is entering his 9^th year at the helm of BYU and this season will mark their first time that they will compete in the Big 12.
BYU comes into this meet ranked No. 26 on Road to Nationals
The Cougars are coming in riding a high after defeating No. 17 Southern Utah and Utah State in the Rio Tinto Best of Utah meet.
BYU has competed in three quad meets to start their season placing 4^th, 3^rd, and 2^nd.
Guard brought in 9 freshmen to pair with their 16 returnees.

Players Mentioned

Noelle Adams

Josie Bergstrom-Te Slaa

Laura Cooke

Emilie Hong

Hannah Loyim

Lauren O'Brochta

Kaia Parker

Ella Schell

Paige Wills

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics