As K-State enters its final match of the first round of Big 12 play, the Wildcats are right where the conference coaches thought they would be.
    The 13th-ranked Wildcats (17-3, 7-2 Big 12), who will take on Iowa State (12-8, 4-5 Big 12) at 6:30 tonight, are in sole possession of third place in the conference standings, which is where they were picked to finish in the preseason coaches poll. The Wildcats trail only Nebraska and Texas. 
    After opening conference play with a 1-3 loss to Nebraska, the Wildcats have won seven of their last eight league matches, including three straight.
    The team is coming off the heels of a dominating 3-0 win over Texas Tech on Saturday.
    The Cyclones, who have won three of their last four matches, have been paced this season by sophomore outside hitter Victoria Henson and senior middle blocker Jen Malcolm, who are averaging 4.1 and 2.9 kills per game, respectively.
    A trio of seniors has been leading K-State this year. Outside hitters Rita Liliom and Nataly Korobkova have been consistent, averaging 4.11 and 3.13 kills per game, respectively.
    Middle blocker Megan Farr has been a solid all-around player, averaging 1.96 kills and 1.24 blocks per game while maintaining a .414 hitting percentage.
    Not including tonight’s match, the Wildcats and Cyclones have faced off 72 times. K-State holds a slim 37-35 series lead, but the numbers aren’t nearly as even in recent years.
    Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, the Wildcats own a 22-2 advantage. That stretch includes a streak of 20 consecutive wins - in which the Cyclones won a total of seven games - from 1996-2005.