Volleyball player earns ‘Co-Player of Year’ honors

Stephenee Yancy is the first UIC volleyball player to earn the Horizon League Volleyball Co-Player of the Year award. Photo: Steve Woltmann

Stephenee Yancy earned 2014 Horizon League Volleyball Co-Player of the Year award, the first UIC volleyball player to win the title in program history. She shares the award with Valparaiso’s Emily Campbell.

Redshirt freshman Nicole Johnson was named the league’s Freshman of the Year, the second UIC volleyball player to win the title in program history. Former Flame Meghan Keck earned the title in 2002.

Yancy and Johnson both earned spots on the All-League Team and Johnson was also selected for the All-Freshman Team.

Yancy played in 114 sets over 30 appearances, leading the squad Flames with 501 kills and 100 total blocks. She leads the Horizon League with a .361 attack percentage and 4.39 kills per set.

She ranks eighth in the nation in kills, 18th in kills per set and 44th in attack percentage.

Yancy has put down double-digit kills in all 30 matches, owns seven 20-plus kill performances and has been named to three all tournament teams. She was named the leagues “Offensive Player of the Week” a program-record four times this season.

Johnson has put up historic numbers in her first season as UIC’s setter. She leads the league and ranks third in the nation with 1,327 assists. She also owns seven double-doubles and leads the squad with 25 service aces.

The Horizon League Volleyball Championship begins Friday at the Athletics Center o’rena in Rochester, Michigan. The quarterfinals start with No. 6 UIC facing No. 3 Valparaiso at 4 p.m. Semifinals begin Saturday and the championship match is set for Sunday. All matches will air on ESPN3.