For the third time in nine weeks, ISU libero Caitlin Nolan won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award.

The conference announced Nolan’s win Oct. 27. 

Nolan, a junior from Southlake, Texas, etched her name in the Big 12 record books during Iowa State’s win against then-No. 18 Kansas on Oct. 22, tallying 43 digs in the Cyclones’ five-set victory. Those 43 digs set an ISU record and tied the Big 12 record for digs in a single match.

She followed that performance with 35 digs, the second-most for a match in her career, in a five-set loss at Baylor on Oct. 25.

Her 78 digs over 10 sets gave her a blistering pace of 7.8 digs per set last week and helped extend her lead in the Big 12 digs-per-set race.

Nolan is now averaging 5.72 digs per set on the season and holds a 0.67 margin over the next-closest player. Her 406 digs this season are also the most in the Big 12 by a single player.

This week’s award is Iowa State’s 39th overall and fourth of the season, as freshman middle blocker Alexis Conaway took home the honor Sept. 15. The ISU volleyball team leads the Big 12 in Defensive Player of the Week awards all-time and this season.

The Cyclones have a mid-week bye this week but return to action at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 against Texas at Hilton Coliseum. The match will be televised on ESPNU.