AMES, Iowa – Iowa State libero Caitlin Nolan received another award Tuesday as she was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region First Team. Senior outside hitter Victoria Hurtt earned All-Midwest Region honors for the second time in her career (2012).
This marks the seventh-consecutive year that Iowa State has had a representative of the All-Region First Team. Nolan becomes the 10th Cyclone to earn All-Region First Team honors under head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch.
Nolan racked up one of the top seasons by a Libero in Iowa State history. A 2014 All-Big 12 First Team selection and the unanimous selection as 2014 Big 12 Libero of the Year, ISU’s seventh consecutive Big 12 Libero of the Year win, Nolan ranks atop the Big 12 and fifth in the NCAA with her 5.74 digs per set. Her per-set number is the highest in Iowa State history, just edging out Kristen Hahn’s 5.72 dps from last season. Nolan finished the season with 614 digs, the third-most in a season in ISU history and the sixth 600-dig season in program history. Nolan had at least 10 digs in 27 matches, 20 in 15 matches and 30 digs in four matches. On Oct. 22 in ISU’s five-set win over Kansas, Nolan broke the Iowa State and tied the Big 12 record with 43 digs in the win over the Jayhawks.
Hurtt found her way back onto the All-Region team after missing out last season. Hurtt ranked second on the Cyclones with 2.66 kills per set for the season, but her numbers after ISU switched to the 6-2 offense were even better, hitting 2.94 kills per set at a .234 hitting percentage in those nine matches. The senior, who finished her career as one of nine Cyclones with over 1,000 career kills, had her best season as a blocker, posting 59 total blocks, which included a team-high 12 solo blocks.
By being named to the AVCA All-Region squads, Nolan and Hurtt are eligible to be selected as AVCA All-Americans, which will be announced next week.
