Schaben Named Big 12 Rookie of the Week

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State's freshman outside hitter Jess Schaben has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The award marks the first conference award of Schaben's career, and the fifth-straight season ISU has picked up at least one Big 12 Rookie of the Week prize.

Schaben led the Iowa State offense during the Cyclones' 2-1 weekend at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Cavalier Classic. The Defiance, Iowa native started out the tournament with one of the best performances in the Big 12 in 2015, and one of the best efforts in Iowa State history. In Iowa State's five-set win, Schaben led the way with a career-best 28 kills, breaking the previous ISU freshman record of 25 and tied for the ninth-most in a match in program history, at a .397 hitting percentage.

Schaben, who was named to the Cavalier Classic All-Tournament Team, also led ISU in its sweep of VCU with nine kills and in the Cyclones' five-set defeat against hosts Virginia with 14 kills. For the weekend, Schaben posted 51 kills, the most by any player in the Big 12 last week, at 3.98 kps and a .319 hitting percentage. Six matches into the 2015 season, Schaben leads Iowa State with 3.46 kills per set.

Iowa State is back in action this weekend at the Comfort Suites Challenge hosted by Iowa. The Cyclones have a doubleheader Friday in Iowa City against Texas A&M at 1:30 p.m. and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series meeting with Iowa at 8 p.m. ISU will close the tournament Saturday at 4 p.m. against Milwaukee.