Box Score PALATINE, Ill. – It was a bittersweet night for the Harper College volleyball team on Tuesday night. On one hand, the Hawks earned a sweep (25-9, 25-6, 25-13) of visiting Milwaukee Area Technical College. On the other hand, the six Harper sophomore volleyball players played their final home regular season contest inside the Wellness & Sports Center.
Before the match, Hawks sophomores Adriana Loiacono (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin), Shannon Igielski (Streamwood, Ill/St. Edward), Daniele Sortino (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Elk Grove), Sarah Berggren (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), Jillian Hoffman (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey), and Meghan Chartier (Inverness, Ill./Buffalo Grove) were honored for their immense contributions to the program.
"This might be the most talented set of sophomores ever to graduate at one time. They are great people and players, destined for greatness in their lives," said Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet.
In the first set, Harper (30-12, 8-3 N4C) took a 12-3 lead over Milwaukee (5-15, 2-9 N4C) on the way to a 25-9 win. Sortino and Berggren each had kills while setter Katelyn Sommers (/Buffalo Grove) had eight assists. Chartier added to her nation-leading dig total with six more digs.
Behind strong serving from Sommers and Igielski, the Hawks built a 15-1 lead in the second set and cruised to a 25-6 victory. Sortino and Hoffman each tallied three kills in the set.
In the third set, Annie Bielinski (/Fremd) put down three kills and Harper won 25-13 to close the match out. Chartier added five more digs for a team-high 14 digs.
Sophomore stats:
Sarah Berggren (Barrington, Ill./Barrington): five kills, one block, one dig, 7-of-7 serving with two aces
Adriana Loiacono (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin): three kills, one block, three digs, 5-of-6 serving with an ace
Shannon Igielski (Streamwood, Ill/St. Edward): three kills, one block, seven digs, 18-of-19 serving with five aces
Daniele Sortino (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Elk Grove): six kills, 0.5 blocks
Jillian Hoffman (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey): three kills, 1.5 blocks, nine digs, 5-of-8 serving with two aces
Meghan Chartier (Inverness, Ill./Buffalo Grove): 14 digs, 11-of-11 serving with three aces
"I hope they remember their Harper College volleyball days fondly forever and remain friends forever. I know I will never forget these players and these last two years," Vilsoet said.
The win was the Hawks' 30th of the season. Harper College has now won over 30 matches five years in a row.
Next up for the Hawks is their N4C regular season finale at Joliet Junior College (5-29, 4-7 N4C) on Thursday evening. First serve is slated for 6 PM.
