Nolan Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State libero Caitlin Nolan has been named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. This is Nolan's first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award. The Cyclones' junior was ISU's back-row leader against No. 3 Stanford and No. 13 Florida State in the AVCA Showcase.

The spotlight was on Nolan heading into the 2014 season as she had the task of replacing three-time All-American and three-time Big 12 Libero of the Year Kristen Hahn wearing the opposite color jersey. Nolan delivered on the promise she showed as Hahn's deputy and back-row partner in her first two seasons in Ames. In the season opener against the Cardinal, Nolan led all players with a career-high 19 digs. She followed that up on Sunday against FSU with 15 digs to lead all players again.

Nolan also continued to provide outstanding service as a passer on serves, recording only one receiving error on 29 attempts at a 96.6 percent reception rate.

The win is just the latest in ISU's continued dominance of the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award. Since its introduction in 2007, the award has been presented 102 times. Iowa State has won the award a conference-leading 36 times, with the next-closest Big 12 team being Kansas with 12. Hahn finished her career with a Big 12-record 17 weekly awards, while the libero before her, Ashley Mass, was the previous record holder at 15. Mass and Hahn are responsible for Iowa State winning the last six Big 12 Libero of the Year awards.

Iowa State will return to action by hosting the Iowa State Challenge at Hilton Coliseum. The matches begin on Thursday when the Cyclones host Omaha at 6:30 p.m. Friday night will see ISU take on Tennessee again at 6:30 p.m. The Cyclones will wrap up the weekend by hosting Northern Illinois Sunday at 4:30 p.m.