WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – After dropping their first two matches in the Wisconsin Dells, the #9 Harper College volleyball team won their final four matches against quality opponents.  The winning streak improves the Hawks' record to 30-11, which is the fourth time since head coach Bob Vilsoet took over the program in 2002 that the team has reached 30 wins.

Harper started out the weekend by losing 3-2 (25-11, 16-25, 16-25, 25-17, 12-15) to the fifth ranked team in Division II, Owens College, on Thursday.  Sarah House (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South) had a team-best 14 kills while Liz Dotson (Palatine, Ill., Fremd) added 8.  Stephanie Igielski (Streamwood, Ill., St. Edwards) and Andraia Leja (Crystal Lake, Ill., Prairie Ridge) each registered four aces while Dotson was strong around the net with 6 blocks.  Setter Alyssa Cazzato (Bartlett, Ill., Bartlett) picked up 37 assists.  Defensively, Leja, Cazzato and Becky DePaepe (West Dundee, Ill., Jacobs) all reached double figures in digs.

"This was a very good showing versus a very strong team," Vilsoet said.

In the team's other match on Thursday, the Hawks lost another 5-gamer to a Division II school.  This time Carl Sandberg College, who is receiving votes in the Division II poll, beat Harper 3-2 (25-11, 25-19, 24-26, 20-25, 10-15).    Harper led Carl Sandberg 24-20 in the third game and needed just one point to win the match but were unable to convert.  Lauren LaMasse (Hoffman Estates, Ill., Hoffman Estates) led the Hawks on attack with 17 kills.  Dotson and House each tallied 9 kills.  Leja had another strong game at the service line with 4 aces while LaMasse, Dotson and Igielski combined for 11 blocks.  Cazzato had 42 assists quarterbacking the offense.  The Hawks had 5 players in double figures in digs as Leja had 39, Sam Wallenberg (Elk Grove, Ill., St. Viator) 19, Megan Kollmeyer (Tustin, Mich., Pine River) 14, House 12 and Cazzato 11.

“Unfortunately, I think we ran out of gas in games 8, 9, and 10 in a row, and just couldn't push through to the end," Vilsoet said.  "It was an exciting match, and I think we learned a little bit about ourselves, which was the whole point of getting into this strong tournament.”

The Hawks got back to their winning ways on Friday by defeating the tenth-ranked team in Division II Muskegan College 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-21, 15-13).  Cazzato had a record-breaking match as she set a new program-best with 56 assists in a 5-game match.  The beneficiaries of Cazzato's pinpoint passing were the Hawk attackers.  House led 5 players with at least 9 kills by putting down 14.  LaMasse (13 kills), Dotson (12 kills), Lindsey Pickle (Arlington Heights, Ill., Prospect) (11 kills) and Igielski (9 kills) had solid nights on attack, as well.  House had a double-double with 13 digs while Leja and Kollmeyer had 25 and 11 digs, respectively.

"This was a very exciting match right down to the last point," Vilsoet said.  "Muskegan is a very strong, well-coached team."

Harper won their other match on Friday, defeating Jackson College 3-1 (25-13, 28-26, 21-25, 25-19).  House had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs while Leja had 21 digs and 4 aces.  LaMasse, Dotson and Igielski combined for 11 blocks.  Kelly Sommers (Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove) tallied 39 assists.

"Jackson was a difficult opponent to defeat," Vilsoet said.  "They had multiple weapons and as the match progressed, Jackson continued to play better against us.  We played very well in this match."

The team ended their weekend with a pair of victories.  To start the day, Harper defeated Blackhawk 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 18-25, 25-18).   Outside hitters House and LaMasse combined for 28 kills, and Cazzato paved the way with 39 assists.  LaMasse also had a team-high 6 blocks.

"Black Hawk has become somewhat of a familiar opponent," Vilsoet said.  "They blocked us very well, and we had to find ways to get around the block.  There was no lack of hustle on either team's behalf."

In their sixth and final match of the weekend, the Hawks defeated the team ranked 1 spot below them.  Harper swept tenth-ranked Nassau (25-13, 25-16, 25-13) to end the weekend on a 4 game winning streak.  The Hawks used their entire team to dismantle Nassau.  The team missed only missed 4 serves all match, good for a 95% clip.  House had 9 kills while Bolawa Gbadebo (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Thornwood/Hoffman Estates) (Hoffman Estates, Ill., Thornwood/Hoffman Estates) added 5 kills.  Sommers had a double-double with 25 assists and 11 digs.

"We enjoyed playing this match," Vilsoet said.  "We wish Nassau well as their season progresses."