Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College volleyball team won two more matches in the past week, knocking off No.2 Madison College and Elgin Community College. The Hawks are the No.1 ranked team in the nation and own a perfect record (20-0, 7-0 N4C)

The match between the Hawks and Wolfpack (19-2, 5-1 N4C) on Thursday night figured to be a battle, and it certainly turned out to be one. Both teams had 18 wins on the season, with a lone loss belonging to the Wolfpack. The teams also held the top spots in the NJCAA Div. III National Rankings.  

The first set looked as if it would be a blowout for the Hawks. Harper jumped on Madison gaining a 13-8 advantage, before extending it to 16-9 and forcing the hosts to call a timeout. Madison would fight back to 20-16, but a Hannah Moore (/Schaumburg) ace put the Hawks up 21-16, before closing out the set 25-21.

As expected from such a highly ranked team in Madison, the second set would be a battle. The game was knotted numerous times, including 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, 24-24, 25-25, before the Hawks fell 25-27.

The third set played out similar to the first with the Hawks building a 16-8 lead forcing the Wolfpack to call timeout. Again, Madison would fight back getting as close as 23-21, but could not do enough as the Hawks won 25-22.

In the fourth set, Harper gained an early 10-5 advantage on some masterful serving by Kayla Mayer (/Wauconda), but would relinquish their lead as the set wore on. The game was tied at 20-20, but a late rally by Madison gave the hosts a 25-22 win.

The fifth set proved why the Hawks are No.1 in the rankings. Harper broke open an 8-3 lead early on, and cruised to a 15-9 victory in the set and a 3-2 win in the match.

Kayla Mayer (/Wauconda) was outstanding for the Hawks defensively in the match recording 48 digs, a new Harper record. In addition to Mayer, Ariana Chelini (/Crystal Lake South) added 22 digs and 10 kills to record a double-double.
Finally, Katelyn Sommers (/Buffalo Grove) recorded 26 digs of her own to go along with 50 assists.

On Saturday, Harper defeated Elgin Community College (4-9) in a three-set match 25-11, 25-21, and 25-12. The win boosted the Hawks' record to 20-0.

Next up for the Hawks is Rock Valley College on Sept. 27 in Palatine. Harper knocked off Rock Valley less than a month ago in straight sets.