PRIMER: Iowa State at UCF, vs. No. 8 BYU

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State first heads to Orlando to meet UCF before returning home to host No. 8 BYU in week seven of the Big 12 schedule.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 5 p.m. CT, at UCF (12-9, 4-7 Big 12)

Live Stats | ESPN+ | Media Center | Notes

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2 p.m., vs. No. 8 BYU (18-1, 10-0 Big 12)

Tickets | Live Stats | ESPN+ | Media Center | Notes

Promotions

Season ticket holders are invited to a meet and greet post match Saturday vs. No. 8 BYU. For all season promotions, click here.

By the Numbers

1 – Rachel Van Gorp is the first in Iowa State history to earn a spot on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Van Gorp is also the one and only libero on the Big 12 Preseason Team.

3 – Christy Johnson-Lynch ranks No. 3 all time in Big 12 history with 226 league victories.

7 – Pam McCune had the seventh-highest hitting percentage in program history vs. TAMUCC, hitting 12 kills at 0.733.

9 – Freshman Macie Lupkes nearly had a 10-block match vs. Hawaii, putting up nine block assists.

22 – Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 22nd season leading the Cyclones.

The 2026 Cyclones

Mesaiya Bettis has hit in double figures in five of the last six matches, leading ISU in all five. Since the Cincinnati match, Bettis has averaged over 14 kills and 17 points per match.

Rachel Van Gorp has earned four Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week awards this season. Van Gorp continues to be the one and only libero to earn multiple defensive honors this season. It is her sixth total, while just four other Cyclones have earned as many. Van Gorp leads the Big 12 averaging 4.71 digs per set this season. The libero is 73 digs away from entering the ISU top 10.

Nayeli Gonzalez (3.33 per set) and Nayeli Ti'a (2.67 per set) lead ISU this season in kills. Ti'a nears her 1,000th kill with 975.

The Opponents

UCF is hitting at .274 on the season, ranking third in the Big 12 and 19th nationally. UCF's Natasha Casey leads the nation in aces averaging .75 per set. BYU is hitting above .300 on the season at .302 to lead the conference and rank fourth nationally. BYU faces No. 25 Colorado in Boulder before heading to Ames, and is the lone undefeated team remaining in Big 12 play.

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Players Mentioned

Mesaiya Bettis

Nayeli Gonzalez

Macie Lupkes

Pam McCune

Nayeli Ti'a

Rachel Van Gorp

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics