AMES, Iowa – The 10th-ranked Iowa State volleyball team will host its annual Cardinal and Gold scrimmage Saturday following a Chalk Talk session with head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. Both events are free and open to the public.
The Cyclones begin the 2012 season ranked in the top-10 in the country after their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season, advancing to the NCAA Regional Final for the second time in four years. The squad finished the season 25-6 overall and 13-3 in the Big 12, second in the league.
Leading Iowa State this season are 2011 All-America first team member Alison Landwehr and honorable mention All-Americans Jamie Straube (twice) and Kristen Hahn. Hahn was the 2011 Big 12 Libero of the Year in her first season as the Cyclones starting libero.
Iowa State will also introduce its largest freshmen class this season, counting seven true freshmen on the 16-member team. PrepVolleyball’s sixth-ranked freshmen class includes the Des Moines Register Female Athlete of the Year, Mackenzie Bigbee (Williamsburg) and fellow Iowa natives Natalie Vondrak (Sioux City) and Morgan Kuhrt (Waverly).
Jenelle Hudson (San Diego) is Johnson-Lynch’s first California recruit and Texas natives Andie Malloy (Allen) and Caitlin Nolan (Southlake) are the first Texans to play for Iowa State since the 2009 season. Staying true to her Midwestern roots, Johnson-Lynch added her fifth Nebraskan in six full recruiting seasons, Grand Island’s Bria Rasmussen.
During the Chalk Talk session prior to the scrimmage, Johnson-Lynch will discuss the rules and strategies employed by volleyball coaching staffs and host a question and answer session.
Saturday’s Chalk Talk will begin at 11:30 a.m. before the team begins its warm-ups. The Cardinal and Gold first serve is set for 1 p.m. All time central.
