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GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – The Harper College volleyball opened their season with a third place finish out of 12 teams at the College of DuPage 17^th Annual Classic.  The Hawks won their opening two matches of pool play on Friday with wins over the College of Lake County and St. Louis- Florrisant Valley to win their group and advance into the semifinals before falling to Moraine Valley Community College on Saturday.  Harper (3-1) regrouped later that day to defeat Illinois Valley Community College in the third place match.
 
“It's a nice start to what looks like is going to be a very fun and competitive season,” said head coach Bob Vilsoet.  “We played very well this weekend.”
 
In the opener on Friday, the Hawks notched a 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-15) victory over the Lancers.  Erinn Hellweg (Wauconda, Ill., Wauconda) put down a team-high 13 kills in her collegiate debut while sophomores Sarah House (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South) and Stephanie Igielski (Streamwood, Ill., St. Edwards) each had six kills and were a combined 25-for-25 hitting.  Megan Kollmeyer (Tustin, Mich., Pine River) led Harper with 16 digs while Kelly Sommers (Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove) added 12, in addition to directing the offense to the tune of 27 assists.  Alyse Kolner (Crystal Lake, Ill., Marion Central) served 17 straight points in the first set.
 
“We started off very well against College of Lake County, hitting on all cylinders,” Vilsoet said.  “This is a testament to the way we practiced this pre-season.  All of the players that started or came off the bench were ready to play today, played their best and executed very well. This is traditionally a very tough tournament, and so far we started off very well.”
 
Harper continued their strong day with a sweep (25-12, 25-14, 25-22) of St. Louis- Florissant Valley.  First year player Veronica Dabrowski (Des Plaines, Ill., Rolling Meadows) led a balanced attack with nine kills and Rebekah Hischke (Algonquin, Ill., Dundee Crown) was tough to stop on the service line with six aces.  Sommers registered her second double-double of the tournament with 30 assists and 13 digs.
 
“St Louis improved their defense with each set,” Vilsoet said.  “In the third set, we had to make a strong comeback.  We were losing 7-14, and still won 25-22.”
 
On Saturday, Moraine Valley downed the Hawks in straight games (15-25, 18-25, 22-25).  Dabrowski finished with ten kills and 11 digs while Kollmeyer had 21 digs. 
 
In the final match of the weekend, Harper rebounded from a loss in the first set to top Illinois Valley (22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-11).  Hellweg, House, Igielski and Clara Moravec (Lake in the Hills, Ill., Jacobs) all tallied at least seven kills and Moravec put down three aces.  Five players reached double figures in digs as Sommers, Kollmeyer, House, Kelly Spychala (Des Plaines, Ill., Elk Grove) and Hellweg all played solid defense.  Sommers had another double-double with 39 assists and 21 digs.
 
Up next, Harper will open the N4C portion of their schedule with a match on Tuesday at #9 Madison College.  First serve is scheduled for 6:00 PM.