AMES (ISU) — For the second-straight year, Iowa State will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The No. 15-seed Cyclones (20-7, 13-3 Big 12) will play IPFW (25-6, 12-4 Summit League) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m, following the first round match between North Carolina and California at 5 p.m.

The Mastodons were Summit League Champions this season, powered by 4.30 kills per set from sophomore outside hitter Emily Spencer. Libero Tessa McGill enters postseason digging an average of 6.18 balls per set. The Cyclones and Mastodons have never faced each other before and the Cyclones will be the first ranked opponent for IPFW this season. 

The Cyclones are on a 10-match winning streak as they head to their seventh-straight NCAA Tournament under head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch and broke a record during the regular season with six wins over top-25 opponents, including defeating No. 3 Texas, 3-2, on senior day. The win over Texas helped vault the Cyclones’ RPI into the top-20, landing at 18th, and helping the squad earn a home court advantage for the third time in four years.