Van Gorp Earns Second Big 12 Defensive POTW Honor

AMES, Iowa – Rachel Van Gorp has picked up her second Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honor of 2025 after her stellar court defense leading Iowa State to back-to-back ranked wins. Van Gorp is one of two in the conference to earn multiple this season.

Van Gorp first went out to a performance like no other, totaling 25 digs in just three sets as ISU swept No. 18 Baylor. The libero had 12 in the first set and 10 in the third to average 8.33 per set. Van Gorp then had 18 digs in the win over No. 6 Arizona State, ending the Sun Devils 12-match win streak and 26-match Big 12 win streak.

Van Gorp held BU to .134 hitting and ASU to .179, for an opponent hitting percentage of .159 through the week. Arizona State entered the match ranked second in the Big 12 hitting at .264 through the season.

Another one.

RVG is your Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, again.https://t.co/bjJSbjwYAK pic.twitter.com/VUewoBvVb0
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 4, 2025

The court defender also had a perfect reception percentage on 41 receptions, and just one service error through 35 serves.

Through the season, Van Gorp ranks second in the Big 12 averaging 4.63 digs per set. The Olathe, Kan. native ranks second in conference matches with 4.82, just off the Big 12 lead of 4.83.

Van Gorp is the ninth in program history to earn multiple defensive awards. Iowa State now totals 67 Defensive Player of the Week nods, the highest total in the league by 36.

Van Gorp and the No. 24 Cyclones will be back in action at UCF this Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. CT.