Dec. 4, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois junior Irene Johnson (Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg) was selected to the 2007 volleyball Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team on Tuesday by the faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions.

"What a great accomplishment for Irene," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. "She continues to show how our top performers excel in the classroom as well as on the court."

Johnson received the Academic All-MAC honor for being a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the volleyball contests. Johnson currently has a cumulative GPA of 3.85 as a family, consumer and nutrition services major with a minor in Spanish.

The Huskies have now garnered three consecutive Academic All-MAC selections in the past three years with Johnson, Zidek (2005) and Gina Guide (2006).

Earlier in the 2007 season, Johnson became only the second Huskie (Marie Zidek, Third Team, 2005) selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V Second Team by the members of the District V College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

In 2007, Johnson took part in all 32 Huskie matches as an outside hitter, totaling a team third-best 351 kills (3.41/game). She finished the season with the MAC's seventh-best kills per conference game average of 3.65. She was named MAC West Player of the Week for the week of October 8th because of her 30 kills, 24 digs, five blocks and 35 points while helping the Huskies post their second win in 15 years at Ball State's John E. Worthen Arena.

Johnson set new career-marks for kills (351) and digs (272), while totaling nine double-doubles in 2007. She also posted a career-best 20 kills against Kent State on October 19th and a career-high 27 digs versus Eastern Michigan on September 29th.

-NIU-