Hillegas Wins ISU's 50th Big 12 Def. Player of the Week

AMES, Iowa – Hali Hillegas won Iowa State's 50th Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week Award, the conference announced Monday. The Cyclone libero was named the conference's top defensive performer for a third time this season and for the fifth time in her career, tied for the fifth-most in Big 12 history.

Iowa State has now picked up the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award 50 times, more than double the second-highest total of 21 by Kansas. During the 11-year history of the award, nine different Cyclones have picked up the honor. Four of the top-five all-time individual award winners wore Cardinal and Gold in the form of Kristen Hahn (First, 17), Ashley Mass (Second, 15), Caitlin Nolan (Fourth, 7) and Hillegas (tied fifth, 5).

Hillegas had a busy week for the Cyclones as she helped lead ISU's back-line in a pair of five-set matches. At No. 11 Kansas, Hillegas finished with 23 digs. In the Cyclones' comeback at Texas Tech, Hillegas set a career-high with 34 digs. The match featured Hilelgas picking up 13 digs in the third set, the most she has picked up in a set this season.

On the season, Hillegas leads the Cyclones and ranks 13th in the NCAA with her 5.61 digs per set. The redshirt junior from Charles City has had at least 20 digs in six-straight matches.

Hillegas and the Cyclones are back in action on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum against Baylor. First serve will be at 6:30 p.m., with the match being televised on Cyclones.TV Powered by Mediacom.