Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The #5 Harper College volleyball team won their first match of the day in the Region IV semifinals against #6 Madison College (25-23, 27-25, 25-19) but lost in the Region IV championship against #3 Rock Valley College (16-25, 18-25, 19-25).  The Hawks end the 2012 season with a 36-15 record.  Kelly Sommers (Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove) and Erinn Hellweg (Wauconda, Ill., Wauconda) were named to the All-Tournament team.
 
“Clearly Rock Valley deserved to win this match and represent the region at the national championship,” said head coach Bob Vilsoet.  “Barring a major breakdown, I fully expect Rock Valley to win the national championship in two weeks.  We do wish Rock Valley the best at nationals.  We are also very glad their top outside hitter graduates this year, and we do wish her the best at her future college.”
 
Hellweg had five kills in the opening set but the Golden Eagles were excellent on serve receive as no Harper player served more than three times in the set.  The Hawks got behind early 7-2 and 17-7 before losing 25-16.  Hellweg and Veronica Dabrowski (Des Plaines, Ill., Rolling Meadows) had three kills apiece in the second set but the team had only two other kills total.  Sommers and Sarah House (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South) were all over the place with 12 and eight digs in the set, respectively and the Hawks sprinted to leads of 11-6, 17-9 and 18-11.  But Rock Valley scored the final 14 points of the set.  Dabrowski did her best to keep the match alive in the third set with seven kills but it wasn't enough.  Once again, Harper had leads of 6-4, 12-8 and 19-15 but Rock Valley scored the final ten points to take the match.
 
Hellweg and Dabrowski finished with ten kills each to lead the Hawks attack.  The duo also both had 11 digs to complete the double-double.  Sommers had team-highs of 21 assists and 21 digs while House had 18 digs.
 
“Rock Valley's top outside hitter and two-time conference MVP was just too much for us to handle,” Vilsoet said.  “Couple that with an excellent defense with roll players that understand their job, and a setter that successfully feeds that hitter all over the court.  I can't say we didn't play well, because for the most part we did play well, but clearly our serve receive broke down at the ends of the second and third games to lose the match.  Against a mere mortal team, this serve receive breakdown might not have cost us the match, but we just couldn't handle their big hitter on the outside, or for that matter when she served, or hit from the back row.”
 
In the semifinal match against Madison earlier in the day, the Hawks captured the first set behind Hellweg (five kills) and three kills each from Stephanie Igielski (Streamwood, Ill., St. Edwards) and Rebekah Hischke (Algonquin, Ill., Dundee Crown).  Sommers had 13 assists.  Harper got out to a quick 8-2 lead but Madison chipped away the rest of the set, eventually tying the set at 21-21 before the Hawks prevailed 25-23.  With the second set tied at 6-6, Madison went on a 10-2 run to lead 16-8.  Harper rallied to get within 20-15 and then 22-21.  Down a point at 25-24, the Hawks won the final three points to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.  The team won the third set a little bit easier than the first two sets as leads of 9-3 and 14-6 put the Hawks comfortably in front before winning 25-19.
 
Hellweg finished with a team-high 17 kills while Dabrowski and Igielski added seven apiece.  Sommers had a double-double with 35 assists and 20 digs while House and Megan Kollmeyer (Tustin, Mich., Pine River) finished with 17 and 12 digs, respectively.
 
“Regional playoffs bring out the best of most teams, and this match was no different,” Vilsoet said.  “Both teams played very well.  Fortunately for us, we won two very close ones at the beginning, and then with our momentum, were able to win the third set to win the match.  This was a very fun and exciting match, with some amazing rallies and defense on both sides of the net.”