Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Sept. 30, 2024 - The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin named North Central College women's volleyball libero Bailey Houlihan as this week's CCIW Defensive Player of the Week. Houlihan led all players in the league with 5.64 digs per set.

Houlihan, a graduate student from Naperville, posted a season-best 33 digs in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to Carthage College. The 33 digs were one shy of her career-best 34, which she achieved on Oct. 9, 2022, while playing for the NCAA Division I University of Memphis. In North Central's two sweeps on Saturday, she tallied 29 digs over six sets. For the week, Houlihan notched five service aces and seven assists.

North Central has now won 44 weekly CCIW honors since the league began awarding a Player of the Week honor in 2000. Houlihan joins Amber Vande Hei, Lauren Benson, Aleesa Zebold, and Maddi Barickman as current Cardinals to win a CCIW Player of the Week award.

The Cardinals return to Gregory Arena on Wednesday to host Wheaton College. The first serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app for iOS and Android devices to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores, and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.