Junior libero Ashley Mass

Each week College Volleyball Update choses a national player of the week, along with 11 top performers. This week, CVU.com chose Iowa State libero Ashley Mass as a top performer after her efforts against George Mason and Wichita State last week in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament at Hilton Coliseum.

The junior averaged six digs per set in the Cyclones’ two victories. Against the Shockers, Mass also posted three assists. The Muskego, Wis., native chipped in a service ace and four assists for Iowa State against George Mason in round one of the tournament last Friday.

The Cyclones travel to Omaha on Friday night for the first game of the Omaha Regional against the No. 10 seed Cornhuskers. Iowa State and Nebraska split earlier in the season, and Mass’ 25 digs against the Huskers in Lincoln helped slow down the Nebraska offense in the Cyclones’ five-set victory to hand Iowa State its first-ever win over the Huskers in the history of the series. 

Against Nebraska at home, in front of a Hilton Coliseum crowd of over 10,000, Mass still was not flawed as she still compiled 18 digs in the three set game.