Gonzalez Region Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Region

AMES, Iowa – Nayeli Gonzalez added to her season accolades with the AVCA's announcement of Division I Regional Awards, picking up Midwest All-Region and Region Freshman of the Year.

No stopping her.

Region Freshman of the Year.
First Team All-Region.https://t.co/xaRz6YPJmV pic.twitter.com/VtJnhK3HkQ
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) December 5, 2023

Gonzalez is the second Iowa State freshman to earn AVCA All-Region First Team and the fourth to earn Regional Freshman of the Year. The outside hitter is the 28^th Cyclone to earn All-Region, totaling the 50^th total honor for Iowa State volleyball.

Gonzalez totaled 348 kills in 2023, five shy of the Iowa State freshman record. The San Antonio native took hold of the freshman point record at the NCAA Tournament with 409.5, downing Rachel Hockaday's 2008 record of 405.0. Gonzalez also notched 224 digs, 47 blocks and 33 aces.

The freshman put up four 20-plus kill performances, including 31 at .344 hitting in the victory over No. 14 Kansas. Her 31 kills and 36.0 points was the most in school history against a ranked opponent, and the highest single-match total by a Cyclone freshman. Gonzalez' first 20-plus kill outing came against No. 18 Baylor, totaling 24 at .475 hitting where she became the first ISU freshman since 2015 to total 20 or more. Gonzalez also went out to 18 double-figure kill performances, seven double-doubles and five 20-plus point performances.

Gonzalez also recently picked up Big 12 Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Big 12 and a unanimous All-Rookie Team selection. Gonzalez recorded her name as the first in Iowa State history to pick up First Team honors as a freshman. Through the season, Gonzalez earned four Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors, while the next highest in the conference was two.