Oct. 29, 2007

Chicago, Ill. Sophomore Casie Sullivan was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week after helping guide UIC to a 3-0 record with 44 digs and 11 blocks in 14 games.

After being sidelined her rookie season with a back injury, Sullivan injured her foot early this season and was forced to step off the court for six weeks.

When freshman setter Dana Van Syckle suffered a season-ending injury to her knee before the Milwaukee match on Oct. 13, Sullivan was asked to step up and take over at quarterback.

Although Sullivan is no stranger to this position, the sophomore has not started at setter since high school and has trained as an outside hitter for the majority of her time at UIC.

Not only did Sullivan dominate defensively for the Flames last week, but she also totaled 12 kills, four service aces and 147 assists.

Since stepping in for Van Syckle two weeks ago, the 5-11 native from Kewanee, Ill. has averaged 3.18 digs and 0.73 blocks per game.

Sullivan was two kills short of a triple-double in a 3-1 victory over Bradley on Oct. 22 with eight kills, 46 assists and 11 digs. The sophomore also owned a team-high .571 attack percentage with four blocks.

The setter then totaled a team-best 20 digs in a five-game win over Youngstown State on Oct. 26. Sullivan then tabbed 13 digs and 47 assists in a 3-2 upset over Cleveland State on Oct. 27.

UIC head to Butler and Wright State this weekend in its final regular-season road matches before the 2007 Horizon League Tournament at Milwaukee on Nov. 11-15.