ISU volleyball to rely on mix of seniors, new talent in push to win Big 12

AMES - Christy Johnson-Lynch has made it well known within the Iowa State volleyball program what her expectations are.

And for as much success as the Cyclones have experienced through Johnson-Lynch's first 10 seasons in Ames, capturing a Big 12 title and Final Four berth still are at the top of the to-do list. A mix of veterans and newcomers has the veteran coach feeling good about taking a step in the right direction.

'We should be better than last year,” Johnson-Lynch said at media day Wednesday. 'We return almost everybody and we were pretty young last year, so we have that much more experience. I think we have some really nice leadership and that's a big part of it. So absolutely the expectations are higher than how we finished last year.”

Iowa State is coming off its ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament and a 19-10 overall mark. The Cyclones' strength will lie in its defense - a staple of Johnson-Lynch teams - and feature All-American and Big 12 Libero of the Year Caitlin Nolan. Nolan played in 29 matches and all 107 sets in 2014 and has carried the torch of All-Big 12 liberos, much like former Cyclone and C.R. Kennedy standout Kristen Hahn.

Nolan set an Iowa State and Big 12 record with 5.74 digs per set and her 614 digs were third most in ISU history. Numbers and statistics led Johnson-Lynch to say Nolan 'could be the best libero in the country this year,” but the senior knows she'll be called upon to be even more of a vocal leader.

'Last year we had two great seniors who really came in and stepped up, so I think this year it's just being that senior and leader to just kind of be there for your other teammates and just know that you have their back,” Nolan said. 'I think that's the biggest thing.”

Iowa State brought in the No. 8 recruiting class in the nation in 2015 and features three top-35 recruits in setter Remington Bowman, outside hitter and Harlan product Jess Schaben and right-side hitter Hannah Bailey. Middle blocker Grace Lazard - Johnson-Lynch's first international recruit - joined the Cyclones, but the program will lean on the seniors like Nolan and right-side hitter Mackenzie Bigbee to bring young players along.

Bigbee played in 29 games and all but four sets as a junior, but was hampered by chronic pain throughout the year after suffering a harsh ankle sprain last spring. She finished with 242 kills, but opted to get her ankle scoped in the off-season, which has made all the difference.

'I think it was pretty frustrating for her last year because she didn't feel like she could be as explosive as she wanted to be,” Johnson-Lynch said. 'All signs show this year that she feels a lot better. She'll be jumping better, she'll be more explosive and I think this has been her best preseason ever.”

The Williamsburg native participated in every spring tournament for Iowa State and just like Nolan has tried to be more vocal. Bigbee knows in her last go-round, it's now or never when it comes to climbing to the top of the Big 12.

'Most of the time I choose to be more of a lead by example type of person,” Bigbee said. 'I found myself that it just comes more naturally the older you get and this year just being more vocal and being able to help out the freshmen has come a lot more easily for me.”

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