SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The fourth-ranked Harper College volleyball team split two matches against a quality field at the Lincoln Land Invitational over the weekend.

Harper (29-11, 9-2 N4C) opened the tournament by beating John A. Logan College on Friday night in four sets (25-8, 25-12, 19-25, 25-19).  Erinn Hellweg (Wauconda, Ill., Wauconda) had a monster game with team-highs of 12 kills and five blocks while adding seven digs.  Alyse Kolner (Crystal Lake, Ill., Marion Central) and Veronica Dabrowski (Des Plaines, Ill., Rolling Meadows) also chipped in eight kills.  Stephanie Igielski (Streamwood, Ill., St. Edwards) had three of the team's seven aces and was 18-for-18 serving.  Kelly Sommers (Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove) finished with a double-double of 29 assists and 11 digs.
 
“This was a good win to avenge the loss earlier in the year in five sets to Logan on our own home court a couple weeks ago,” said head coach Bob Vilsoet.  “Our team clearly wanted to win this match and executed especially well at the beginning half of the match.  Logan did a good job raising the level of play, and winning the third set.  Fortunately, we were able to close out the match against this team in the fourth set.” 

The Hawks began Saturday with a loss to Kaskaskia College (17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 17-25), who is listed in the “others receiving votes” category in the NJCAA Div. I poll.  Hellweg and Sarah House (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South) each contributed 2.5 blocks and also put down 11 and nine kills, respectively.  Clara Moravec (Lake in the Hills, Ill., Jacobs) had seven kills and 2.5 blocks while Kolner had a team-high 14 digs.  Sommers had another double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs while Hellweg completed her double-double with 11 digs.

“We played very well in this match against a very strong and consistent team,” Vilsoet said.  “This was a fun and challenging match. No easy points.  We were probably just a referee call or two from sending this to a fifth set.  Either that, or improved serve receiving.”
 
Harper rebounded in their second match of the day to sweep Kankakee Collge (25-22, 25-17, 25-15).  Hellweg had 12 kills, 12 digs, five aces on 24-for-24 serving and 2.5 blocks.  Dabrowski put down nine kills while Moravec and Rebekah Hischke (Algonquin, Ill., Dundee Crown) added five kills.  Defensively, Sam Wallenberg (Elk Grove, Ill., St. Viator) paced the Hawks with 19 digs while House had 14.

“We played very well in this match,” Vilsoet said.  “We were highly encouraged since we had defeated them earlier in the season in four sets, but this time won in three sets.”

The Hawks concluded the tournament with a loss to Allen County (25-19, 17-25, 23-25, 17-25).  Dabrowski and Hellweg led the way on attack with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.  Kelly Spychala (Des Plaines, Ill., Elk Grove) had 23 digs while Kolner and House had ten each.  Sommers had her third double-double of the tournament with 39 assists and 16 digs.

“This was another good match for us to play, even though we lost,” Vilsoet said.  “Allen County did a good job pushing us in several ways.”

Summing up the weekend, Vilsoet had this to say: “We played well against tough competition and have some things to work on.  This was a fun road trip to Lincoln Land College, complete with a nice dinner at Cracker Barrel, and a pleasant stay at the Baymont Inn complete with free breakfast.”
 
Harper closes out conference play on Tuesday at 6:00 PM against the College of DuPage.  If the Hawks can defeat the host Chaparrals, which they did on Sept. 18, they will earn a share of the N4C title.