PARK RIDGE, Ill.— Illinois middle blocker Erin Johnson has been named the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson shares the honor with Darcy Dorton of Penn State. Johnson helped the Illini extend their winning streak to nine with victories at Indiana and Purdue over the weekend. The Illini also move into a tie with Stanford for fifth in the AVCA Coaches poll.

Johnson averaged 2.3 kills per set on .536 hitting. With nine kills against the Hoosiers on Friday, she nearly gave Illinois the victory in the fourth set with three hits down the stretch, then helped Illinois build a lead in the fifth set with two kills. The following night vs. Purdue, she once again tallied nine kills, also tacking on a dig, an assist and two blocks in the sweep. The weekly honor is Johnson’s first.

Illinois has now claimed five Big Ten weekly honors, including the last four weeks straight. Laura DeBruler was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Sept. 14, Johannah Bangert the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12 and 26 and Ashley Edinger the conference’s defensive honor on Oct. 19.

• Illinois is up one spot to fifth in the AVCA Coaches poll, garnering 1174 points from the 60 voters. The Illini trail only Penn State, Texas, Hawaii and Washington. Other Illinois opponents in the rankings include Minnesota (12), Michigan (15), Florida State (16) and Saint Louis (21). The Illini are ranked in the top five for the first time since Sept. 29, 1992.