Nolan Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

AMES, Iowa – For the third time in 2015, Iowa State libero Caitlin Nolan has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The award is Nolan's third of the season, and seventh of her career.

The seven Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week awards in Nolan's career ranks her tied for eighth in Big 12 history for career weekly awards. She is fourth all-time for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors with her seven. Nolan's DPOW honor is Iowa State's 43rd since the award's inception in 2007, the next closest team is Kansas with 15 Defensive Player of the Week awards.

Nolan was outstanding in Iowa State's matches against No. 10 Kansas and Oklahoma last week. Against the Jayhawks, Nolan finished with 29 digs, the highest digging output of the week by any Big 12 player. In the first set against the Jayhawks, Nolan was unstoppable with 14 digs, the most she has had in a single-set in her career and the 10th time in 2015 she has had at least 10 digs in a single set.

In the Cyclones' four-set victory over the Sooners on Saturday, Nolan posted 27 digs, the second-highest output by a player in the Big 12 on the week. The senior now has eight of the 12 highest dig totals in a single-match in the Big 12 this season.

Nolan, a 2014 AVCA Third-Team All-American, 2014 Big 12 Libero of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection, leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the NCAA with 6.01 digs per set. No player in Iowa State or Big 12 history has finished a season with over six digs per set. Nolan has raised her level of play against Big 12 opposition, averaging 6.38 digs per set against league foes.

Nolan and the Iowa State volleyball squad are back in action on Saturday at TCU. First serve between the Cyclones and Horned Frogs will be at noon.