AMES, Iowa – Iowa State has once again been tabbed among the Big 12 elite as for the third consecutive season the Cyclones have been picked to finish second in the Big 12, the conference announced Monday.
The defending NCAA Champions, Texas, were the unanimous choice of the league’s coaches to win the Big 12 title with 64 points. The Cyclones received one first place vote as coaches are not allowed to vote for their own squad. Iowa State slotted in second at 55 points and Kansas third with 51.
Along with being the third straight year Iowa State has landed second in the Big 12 preseason poll, this is the fifth consecutive season that the Cyclones have been voted into the top-three.
Iowa State tied its second-best Big 12 winning percentage last season en route to a second consecutive 13-3 mark in Big 12 play and a 22-8 overall record. The Cyclones made its fifth NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance in six seasons in 2012.
On Tuesday, the Big 12 named Cyclones Mackenzie Bigbee, Kristen Hahn and Victoria Hurtt to the 2013 Big 12 Preseason Team with Hahn and Hurtt unanimous selections.
Kansas State slotted into fourth on the 2013 Big 12 Preseason Poll with Oklahoma in fifth, Baylor in sixth, TCU and Texas Tech tied for seventh and West Virginia rounding out the conference in ninth.
Iowa State will hold the annual Cardinal and Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to come early as Christy Johnson-Lynch and the Cyclone coaching staff will be hosting “Chalk Talk”. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum and is an opportunity for fans to learn about the rules and strategies of volleyball and ask questions to the Iowa State coaching staff.
Iowa State’s regular season will begin in Grand Forks, N.D. at the UND Classic against South Dakota State on Aug. 30 at 11 a.m.
