Wins, expectations piling up for Johnson-Lynch in Ames

AMES - Bright lights.

Huge match.

Kristen Hahn, you're in.

“At first I felt a lot of pressure,” said the former Kennedy standout, who spoke along with her Iowa State teammates during Tuesday's media day at Hilton Coliseum. “I wasn't sure if I was going to be playing or not and I was thrown in against Kentucky on national television, which was really nerve-wracking for me.”

Hahn, a defensive specialist/libero, enters her sophomore season for the preseason No. 18 Cyclones poised for more playing time.

She ranked sixth on the team in digs last season, averaging 2.13 per set behind third-team all-American Ashley Mass.

“She's becoming a great passer,” said seventh-year ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, whose teams have reached the NCAA Tournament four straight seasons. “A year ago I didn't even know if she could play the libero position for us. I was concerned about her passing. She blew that away in the spring and she's doing great. Her passing, statistically, is right up there with Mass. I can't believe how much she's improved in a year, but I think that's because she's a great athlete and she works really hard.”

Athleticism continues to ramp up under Johnson-Lynch.

So do wins.

Before she arrived in Ames in 2005, the Cyclones had endured nine straight losing seasons while limping to a Big 12 record of 13-167.

Since taking over the program, Johnson-Lynch has become the fastest coach in school history to 100 wins (125-67 overall, 73-47 conference).

“If we don't make the (NCAA) Tournament, to me, that would be just a really disappointing year,” said Johnson-Lynch, who guided ISU to three straight Sweet Sixteens from 2007-09. “I think we should every year - and year-in, year-out have enough talent to do that.”

This year begins in the Aug. 26-27 Northern Illinois Invitational at DeKalb, Ill.

The Cyclones graduated two all-Americans in Victoria Henson and Mass, but return 12 of 15 letterwinners, including preseason all-Big 12 picks Jamie Straube (middle blocker) and Alison Landwehr (setter).

Redshirt freshman Hannah Willms (outside hitter) was tabbed as the conference's newcomer of the year.

“Everything's getting better for her,” Johnson-Lynch said of Willms. “She's not even close to what she's going to be. She's just a tremendous athlete.”

Landwehr - who had 40-plus assists in six of her last seven matches of 2010 - plans to improve her pre-kill efficency.

“We're really focusing this year on getting more one-on-one hitters,” Landwehr said. “Trying to fool the other side and make sure I'm getting almost every ball hittable so our hitters can attack it.”

Hahn, meanwhile, hopes to continue playing a key role in thwarting opponents' attacks on any stage - no matter the size.

“Going in on national television was nerve-wracking for me, but it was exciting,” Hahn said. “It's a great memory I can look back on.”