NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Sophomore KJ Johnson (Saint John, Ind.-Marian Catholic) of the Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team earned his first ever weekly College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin award as announced by the league office Monday, Jan. 31. Johnson is the first recipient of the league's Defensive Player of the Week honors in program history, and marks the second straight week IWU has had a player garner CCIW weekly accolades. 

The Saint John, Ind. native led a surging Titan defensive effort this past week. With his leadership, he controlled the back row to produce a 3-0 record and extend Illinois Wesleyan's program-record win streak to four. Through five matches this season, the Titans have already surpassed the teams win total (three) from last year. In the team's five-set victory over Rockford, Johnson compiled a double-double with 27 digs to go along with 13 kills and a .944 reception percentage. At the IWU Invitational, Jan. 29, Johnson manufactured an unmatched 1.000 reception percentage with 13 digs. Offensively, he also produced 19 kills over the span of the two matches. 

In total, Johnson tabulated 3.04 points per set, 3.08 digs per set, 2.46 kills per set, 0.31 aces per set, and 0.31 blocks per set.     

Johnson and the Titans are back in action against Edgewood College, Tuesday, Feb. 1 inside the Shirk Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.