Iowa State at Rebel Challenge Primer

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State kicks off the 2024 season at the Rebel Challenge in Las Vegas. The Cyclones first meet Pacific on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. CT before matching up with the host UNLV Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Rebel Challenge, Aug. 30-31

Live Stats | Notes | Media Center | Live Stream vs. Pacific | Mountain West Network vs. UNLV

Iowa State's Friday match vs. Pacific will be streamed on UNLV's YouTube page, while the match vs. UNLV will be brodcasted on the Mountain West Network.

By the Numbers

2 – Iowa State enters 2024 following two-straight 20-win seasons.

15 – The 2024 squad features 10 returners, three freshmen and two transfers.

20 – The 2024 season marks Christy Johnson-Lynch's 20th season leading Iowa State.

The 2024 Cyclones

Christy Johnson-Lynch will begin her 20th season leading Iowa State, a program she has transformed. Johnson-Lynch holds 370 career victories (.648 winning percentage), with 203 of those being Big 12 wins to rank fourth in all-time conference history. Iowa State totals 10 20-win seasons under Johnson-Lynch, including the past two seasons.

In the preseason AVCA poll, ISU received votes. Iowa State opens the 2024 season with a squad of 10 returners who produced 72 percent of kills and 58 percent of blocks in 2023. Nayeli Gonzalez readies for her sophomore season following AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA Midwest Freshman of the Year, AVCA First Team All-Region, Big 12 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 honors in her first year out.

Two transfers and three freshmen also join the squad. ISU welcomes transfers Tierney Jackson from West Virginia and Amiree Hendricks-Walker from South Florida. Jackson led WVU in blocks both seasons as a Mountaineer while Hendricks-Walker ranked fifth in the AAC in blocks as a sophomore.

The Opponents

Last season, UNLV went 19-13 including an 11-7 Mountain West Conference record while only losing three matches at home. UNLV is led by Malia Shoji, who enters her second year leading the Rebels following five seasons as associate head coach at Utah.

In 2023, Pacific held an 18-11 record and went 10-6 in the West Coast Conference. Greg Gibbons takes on his 15th year leading the Tigers, and has Iowa State ties as he is a 1997 ISU graduate. Both UNLV and Pacific extended their seasons at the NIVC, but fell in the first round.

Next Up

Iowa State opens the home slate with the Cyclone Invite Thursday, Sept. 5 through Saturday, Sept. 7 hosting Toledo, Wake Forest and Illinois. Johnson-Lynch will be celebrated at the Sept. 5 match as she begins her 20th season. Following the tournament, Iowa State hosts the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Wednesday, Sept. 11. Tickets are available here.

Iowa State at Rebel Challenge Primer

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Players Mentioned

Nayeli Gonzalez

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Tierney Jackson

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Iowa State at Rebel Challenge Primer

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nayeli Gonzalez

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Tierney Jackson

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