Freshman Schaben earns Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors

Freshman+outside+hitter+Jess+Schaben+goes+up+for+the+spike+on+the+opposite+side+of+the+net%2C+while+two+other+players+try+to+block+it+during+the+Cardinal+and+Gold+scrimmage+match+on+Aug.+22.%C2%A0

Freshman outside hitter Jess Schaben goes up for the spike on the opposite side of the net, while two other players try to block it during the Cardinal and Gold scrimmage match on Aug. 22. 

Kevin Horner

Freshman outside hitter Jess Schaben has earned the Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors, the Big 12 Conference announced on Monday. This is the first accolade accumulated by Schaben in her collegiate career thus far.

Schaben led the Cyclones to a 2-1 record at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Cavalier Classic on Sept. 4 and 5, defeating Appalachian State and Virginia Commonwealth before falling to Virginia. Schaben recorded a career-high 28 kills in Iowa State’s opening match against Appalachian State, eclipsing the previous ISU rookie record by three kills.

Schaben, a native of Defiance, Iowa, was also named to the Cavalier Classic All-Tournament Team, notching nine and 14 kills in the Cyclones’ final two matches of the weekend. Her total of 51 kills was the most of any Big 12 player last week.

Schaben and the Cyclones will hit the road once again this weekend, but this time, not out-of-state. Iowa State will take part in the Comfort Suites Challenge in Iowa City, squaring off against Texas A&M, Iowa and Milwaukee. The tournament will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 11.