Sept. 14, 2009

Park Ridge, Ill. - Illinois junior outside hitter Laura DeBruler has been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. DeBruler had 63 kills (6.3 kills per set) and hit .419 as the Illini captured the State Farm Illini Classic title. The All-American earned her third career tournament MVP honor, second this season and second straight in the Illini Classic. This is the sixth Big Ten Player of the Week honor DeBruler, who also earned the distinction twice as a freshman and three times as a sophomore.

DeBruler had 19 kills and eight digs while hitting .441 vs. Cincinnati; 16 kills and seven digs while hitting .517 vs. Illinois State and 28 kills and 10 digs while hitting .361 in a four-set victory over no. 14 Saint Louis. Those 28 kills marked the 29th match in which DeBruler has amassed at least 20 kills, tying Rachel VanMeter for the most such matches in school history. Her kills numbers in that match were three off a career-high for DeBruler and five shy of the tournament record. DeBruler leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation in both kills (5.64 kills per set) and points (6.18 per set). She is now hitting .342 for the year and has added 47 digs.

• DeBruler isn't the only player in the just released NCAA rankings. Junior setter Hillary is tops in the nation in assists with 12.55 per set. Haen has four matches of at least 40 assists despite the Illini playing only one match of over three sets. Illinois, now 6-1 on the season, also remains 14th in the AVCA Coaches poll.