Van Gorp, Martin Earn Big 12 Player of the Week Nods

AMES, Iowa – Rachel Van Gorp was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week while Ava Martin earned Big 12 Setter of the Week in the first conference weekly awards of the season.

With the Big 12 Setter of the Week new this year, Martin is the first in conference history to earn the award. Van Gorp earns the third defensive weekly honor of the libero's career.

The league also introduced the Big 12 Starting Seven, made up of the setter, defensive, offensive, and rookie of the week along with three players who received the next-highest numbers of votes.

At the season-opening Cyclone Invite, Van Gorp had double figure digs in all three matches including 27 in the four-set win against UNI. The 27 digs is the highest total across any match in the conference this season. The libero averaged 5.10 digs per set through the week, and had a perfect reception percentage on 60 receptions.

Martin dialed in a new career high of 54 assists vs. UNI and tied her career high of 10 digs for the first double-double by a Cyclone this season. Martin's 54 assists is the highest in a four-set match this season across the league. Martin leads the Big 12 in assists averaging 11.50 per set, which also ranks 10th nationally. Martin also had five setter kills, two aces and four blocks through the tournament.

Van Gorp and Martin return to the court for the Gaucho Invite Sept. 3-4 in Santa Barbara, Calif.