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PALATINE, Ill.- The No. 1 ranked Harper College volleyball team remained perfect this weekend at the Rochester Community and Technical College Volleyball Invitational. The Hawks (15-0) had four matches, winning all four in three sets. Harper has played the minimum amount of sets in 14 out of their 15 matches.

First up for the Hawks was Anoka Ramsey Community College (1-7) on Friday afternoon. Harper got off to a slow start in the first set, falling behind 0-5, but quickly rallied to take a 13-8 lead. Kathryn Novy (/Dundee-Crown), fresh off being named NJCAA National Player of the Week, added 5 kills and a block in the first set. Harper would run away with the rest of set and finish with a 25-11 victory.

Harper started fast in the second set, pulling away to claim another 25-11 win. The final set was tied 6-6, but the Hawks were too much, earning a 25-17 victory. Katelyn Sommers (/Buffalo Grove) added ten assists and eight digs for the Hawks in the set.

Next up for Harper was Williston Community College (5-5). Again the Hawks handled their opponent in the minimum sets. The first set looked to be close with Harper holding a 10-8 advantage early, but down the stretch the Hawks outscored the Tetons 15-9 to earn a 25-17 win.

Gaining momentum, the Hawks built a 15-7 lead in the second set and never looked back closing the set out to win 25-11.

The final set played out differently for the Hawks and Tetons. Neither team gave in, as the game was tied 19-19. Harper finally gained a 2-point advantage, but quickly the Tetons tied up the game at 21-21. A crucial missed serve by Williston gave the Hawks a one-point lead, and the Hawks closed the set out 25-21.

On Saturday, Harper battled Ellsworth Community College (5-10) and Central Lakes College (5-5). Again, the Hawks dominated both matches winning both in just three sets.

Ellsworth could not handle the No. 1 Hawks in any of the three sets. Ariana Chelini (/Crystal Lake South) was perfect in the service game (9-9) in the first set, also adding five kills. The first set would finish 25-11.

As usual, vibrant from their win in set one, the Hawks went out fast in the second set building a 17-9 lead. The Panthers would cut the gap to 20-17, but Harper again imposed their will in the end earning a 25-18 victory in the second set.

Harper and Ellsworth were knotted 6-6 early on in the third set, but the Hawks went on a mini 8-2 spurt running away to a 25-15 win in the final set. Freshman Ellie Burzlaff (/Harvest Christian) had four kills, while Chelini also added 4 kills for the Hawks. Chelini, scored a double-double for her efforts in the match, with 13 digs and 10 kills.

The final game pitted Harper against Central Lakes College. With strong serving from Sommers (7-7) and great defensive play from Kayla Mayer (/Wauconda) (11 digs), the Hawks ran away with the first set 25-13. The Hawks never trailed in the set.

The next set saw the Hawks fall behind early 0-3 and 4-6, but Harper tied it at 7-7 before battling ahead 17-11. Burzlaff, Novy, and Annie Bielinski (/Fremd) (3 kills each) led a balanced Hawks attack, and were consistently set up by Sommers, who added ten assists. Harper would take the set 25-19.

The final set was back and forth, as the Hawks and Raiders exchanged points to reach an 8-8 tie. Some masterful serving by Hannah Moore (/Schaumburg) allowed the Hawks to gain a 19-15 advantage, before taking the set 25-20. Mayer added ten digs in the set, hitting 30 for the match.

Next up for the No. 1 ranked Hawks is Milwaukee Area Technical College (0-5) on Sep. 13. The N4C matchup will be played in Milwaukee, Wis. The Hawks and Stormers battled twice last year, with Harper winning both in straight sets.