PRIMER: No. 25 ISU at Houston, vs. No. 16 TCU

AMES, Iowa – No. 25 Iowa State faces two Texas teams in week 12. The Cyclones first head to Houston Thursday before hosting No. 16 TCU Saturday. The last time ISU was ranked this late in the season was in 2017, and ISU is at No. 20 in the RPI.

Thursday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., at Houston (8-15, 1-11 Big 12)

Live Stats | ESPN+ | Media Center | Notes

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m., vs. No. 16 TCU (18-7, 8-5 Big 12)

By the Numbers

1 – Morgan Brandt leads all active Big 12 players with 3,539 career assists. The total ranks fourth in program history.

2 – Rachel Van Gorp is now a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, becoming one of two in the league to earn multiple this season and the ninth multi-time DPOTW in program history.

3 – Christy Johnson-Lynch ranks No. 3 all time in Big 12 history with 215 league victories.

3 – Iowa State is one of three schools (Indiana, Colorado) currently in the top 20 of the RPI that finished outside the top 80 of last season's final ranking.

8 – ISU's record is the best mark through 23 matches in eight seasons. Iowa State ended non-conference at 10-1, also the best record since 2017.

10 – Iowa State ranks top 10 nationally with 14.24 kills per set, the ninth-highest average. ISU also ranks 12th nationally with 13.12 assists per set. Both averages lead the Big 12.

9 – Maya Duckworth is nine kills away from entering the Iowa State top 10. Duckworth became the 12th in ISU history to join the 1,000-kill club, and now holds 1,033 (T-No. 11 ISU).

The 2025 Cyclones

ISU picked up back-to-back ranked wins for the first time since 2012 with victories vs. No. 6 Arizona State and No. 18 Baylor. Christy Johnson-Lynch now owns 47 Top 25 wins and 12 Top 10 as the Cyclones ended ASU's 12-match win streak and 26-match Big 12 win streak. Johnson-Lynch holds 398 career victories.

Rachel Van Gorp had her second three-set 20-plus dig match this season with 22 digs at UCF. Her average of 7.33 per set led the Big 12 in week 11 by two digs. Van Gorp now is the Big 12 leader this season averaging 4.72 digs per set (No. 26 nationally).

Freshman Reagan Hanfelt, who has played in just 10 matches, has led the Cyclones in blocks in five matches and in kills in two. The rookie totals 103.5 points, 71 kills at .358, 35 blocks, 30 digs and 12 aces.

The Opponent

Iowa State last won against Houston playing on the road in 2023, with the Cyclones winning in five as the Cougars were ranked 21st in the nation. Houston averages 2.57 blocks per set to rank second in the Big 12.

Iowa State has won three of the last four matches against TCU. TCU is ranked 16th in the nation this week and has been ranked as high as No. 9 this season. The Horned Frogs have shown their defense leading the conference with 15.23 digs per set, and average over two blocks per set. This season, TCU totals six ranked wins. TCU will meet No. 22 Colorado at Boulder before heading to Ames.

Next Up

Following Houston and TCU, Iowa State travels to Cincinnati and West Virginia. ISU takes on the Bearcats on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. CT and the Mountaineers Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.

PRIMER: No. 25 ISU at Houston, vs. No. 16 TCU

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Reagan Hanfelt

Rachel Van Gorp

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Iowa State University Athletics

PRIMER: No. 25 ISU at Houston, vs. No. 16 TCU

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Reagan Hanfelt

Rachel Van Gorp

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