PALATINE, IL– Harper College has been ranked in the top-ten every week for the last 6 years in a row, finally culminating in the 2016 NJCAA National Championship.  This year, the team is ranked #1 in the preseason poll.  Each of the last six years, Harper has won over 30 matches, averaging 35.0 wins and 12.8 losses.  

This year, Harper College has five returning starting players and seven total players from last year's 43-1 team, including three starters starting at the same position (Outside Hitter, Middle Hitter and Right Side Hitter).  Further, this year's Libero was last year's Outside Hitter, and this year's setter was last year's Defensive Specialist.

Setter
Every year, setter is a position of significant strength for Harper College.  True to form, Harper has 2^nd year player Emily Huprich (/Elgin) from Elgin H.S. and Sky High VBC.  While playing on Sky High's regional club team, Emily led her team as a setter to three consecutive berths at USAV National tournaments.  Harper also has returning 2^nd year setter Gianna Carusiello (/Hersey) from Hersey H.S. and The Edge VBC.  Emily and Gianna are both excellent all-around volleyball players in addition to being setters.  Both have excellent ball control and can play other positions. 
Katelyn Sommers (/Buffalo Grove) and her 1306 assists and 472 digs from last year graduated and will be playing volleyball for Trinity International in Deerfield, IL this coming year.
Emily Huprich (/Elgin) – Emily Huprich (/Elgin) was named All Conference and All-Area Honorable Mention while playing at Elgin High School.  In Emily's last 3 years at Sky High, she earned trips to USAV Junior Olympics Nationals Tournaments in Minnesota (American Division), New Orleans (National Division), and Indianapolis (American Division).  "I like winners and I want good athletes with good ball control, heart and desire. Emily has ALL of this. Her success at Sky High was unparalleled, and I'm looking to her for leadership, her winning ways and ball control to continue rub off on everyone.  She now has earned her way to National tournaments 4-years in a row.  The goal is five."
Gianna Carusiello (/Hersey) – Gianna was on Hersey's vaunted H.S. MSL Powerhouse team for 3 years.  In addition, she set for The Edge volleyball club.  "Gianna is a good setter, and is best-known for her strong serving at Hersey H.S., which will help Harper College again this year."

Middle Hitter
Middle Hitting position will continue its tradition the last few years of some very strong middle hitting and blocking.  Sarah Udoni (/Palatine), back from earning the Nationals Tournament MVP, is from Palatine H.S. and Sky High VBC.  Fremd's middle hitter Alex Tangney (/Fremd) will be back again. Listen for her to sing the National Anthem before our home matches.  She also had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Arlington Park Race Track this year when the 2016 Harper Championship team was recognized and a race was named in their honor.  In addition, Mackenzie Bush (/Bartlett), Nikki Alm (/Larkin), and Lydia Schiller (/Hoffman Estates) are all 1^st year players.
Kathryn Novy (/Dundee-Crown) graduated this past year. Kathryn had 343 kills and 84 blocks, and will be playing volleyball for Bethel University. 
Sarah Udoni (/Palatine) – Sara is the returning NJCAA National Tournament MVP, Sarah had 287 kills and 108 blocks in 2016.  Sarah was a standout hitter at Palatine H.S. and at Sky High Volleyball where she also went to USAV Nationals American Division, in Indianapolis.  "Sarah is a very exciting player returning to Harper College this year!  Our setter Emily connected very well with Sarah while on Sky High's club team 2 years ago – so we will get to see this pair continue to gel together this year."
Alex Tangney (/Fremd) – Alex is in her second year, and was one of the middle hitters on Fremd's H.S. volleyball team.  She previously played at Top Flight VBC.  "Besides having a professional singing voice, Alex is very tall, and improved greatly at volleyball last year.  Her blocking ability does change how hitters attack the ball."
Makenzie Bush – Makenzie Bush was the starting MH for her Bartlett High School team.  Same High School as past Harper All-American Alyssa Cazzato.  She also played for Top Flight VBC.  "Mackenzie is one of those players blessed with a canon for an arm.  We are already seeing some bombs causing craters on the volleyball floor. We are fortunate that Makenzie chose Harper College to play volleyball after her High School season."
Nikki Alm (/Larkin) – Nikki Alm (/Larkin) played MH on her Larkin High School Team.  She is also from Top Flight VBC.  "Nikki came out to watch her High School teammate Ella Roland (/Larkin) play last year, and decided that this would be where Nikki wanted to continue playing volleyball."
Lydia Schiller (/Hoffman Estates) – Lydia Schiller (/Hoffman Estates) started at Middle Hitter on her Northland Royals High School volleyball team.  She is also a Sky High VBC player.  "One thing about these home schooled teams, one never knows where those players actually live. Turns out Lydia lives VERY near to Harper College and it totally made sense to her to attend Harper College, save money at a good school and play on the volleyball team."

Outside Hitter
Harper College will be more electric at Outside Hitter this year than some years past.  Returning outside hitter Marielle Lugo (/Hoffman Estates) will be paired with Breanna Cullen (/Oregon), Gabby Fugle (/Wauconda), Kelly Busse (/Hersey), Angelina Nichols (/Christian Liberty Academy) or Carly Chiodo (/Hersey).
Marielle Lugo (/Hoffman Estates) – Hoffman Estates High School and Dynamic Impact Volleyball Club (DIVC).  Marielle sat out her varsity high school season due to an injury. On her DIVC team, Marielle was playing Middle Hitter.  "Marielle hits the ball hard, and because she's been playing middle on her club team, will be on the versatile side which is a trademark of our Harper offenses.  I'm expecting great things from Marielle again this year."
Breanna Cullen (/Oregon) – Breanna Cullen (/Oregon) was on Fusion 18-1, and was their starting libero.  At the AAU tournament in Orlando her final year, her team finished near the top and she was named an AAU All-Star which is a very prestigious award.  She played at Oregon High School and was named All-conference.  "Last year she played at SIU, and lucky for Harper College, we have the right program that she is interested in for her to continue her education and play volleyball here.  She is an electrifying player.  Hits hard, plays great defense, is a primary passer and has a nasty serve.  We will see a lot of Breanna on the court this year."
Gabby Fugle (/Wauconda) – Gabby Fugle (/Wauconda) played Middle Hitter on her Wauconda High School team last year.  Same High School as past Harper All-Americans Kayla Mayer (/Wauconda) and Erin "the Hammer" Hellweg. Gabby also played club volleyball for Sky High VBC.  "Gabby improved greatly last year while at club, and now passes much better and hits harder more often, especially on quicker outside sets."
Kelly Busse (/Hersey) – Kelly Busse (/Hersey) red-shirted last year and now gets to play the first of 2 years at Harper College.  Kelly is also from Hersey High School, and played club at Rolling Thunder VBC.  "Kelly is tall, and is another hard-serving, hard-hitting, good passing Hersey graduate.  She will be a scary player when she reaches her full potential!"
Angelina Nichols (/Christian Liberty Academy) – Angelina played middle hitter at Christian Liberty High School.  She comes to Harper with a bunch of awards, including being named All-Conference and was selected as her school's Athlete of the Year.  "After her High School season, Angelina went on a serious fitness program. Obviously it was very successful, and she is playing way better now than when I watched her play on her High School team.  That program worked!  I'm convinced she needs to make a fitness video to help the rest of us to get stronger and stay in shape, or to market it commercially!  I think we have her future business planned out, here."
Carly Chiodo (/Hersey) – Carly attended college at University of Wisconsin, Whitewater last year, and will be playing volleyball at Harper College this year.  She also played at Hersey High School, and the Edge VBC with Gianna Carusiello (/Hersey). "Carly is a very coordinated hard-hitting complete player, serves tough, and good in the back row as well as the front."

Right Side Hitter
Ellie Bulzlaff – Ellie is from Harvest Christian Academy, where they won their Sectional crown 4 times in 4 years.  Ellie was All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State 2^nd team hitter.  At Harper last year, Ellie had 428 kills, and 240 digs, and 29 blocks and 20 aces.  "Ellie is a true leader on the team and superstar player.  She was the leading hitter, on the best team in the country – and that was while she was just a first-year player.  She continued to work hard in the off-season coaching and playing and looks to improve even more on a stellar season last year!"

Back Row
Back row is a very strong position for Harper College again this year.  At libero we expect Ariana Chelini (/Crystal Lake South), last year's Outside Hitter at Harper to be this year's libero, supplemented by Fremd's all-Area libero Karolina Sas.
Kayla Mayer (/Wauconda) graduated with her NJCAA leading 922 digs.  Also gone is Schaumburg All-Area libero Hannah Moore (/Schaumburg) who will continue playing volleyball at Augustana College this coming year. 
Ariana Chelini (/Crystal Lake South) – Crystal Lake South H.S. and Sky High Volleyball.  Ariana was the defensive specialist on the powerhouse Crystal Lake South High School team.  She played libero and outside hitter on the Sky High regional team that earned a trip to USAV Nationals - American Division her last year of club.  "Ariana is a defensive gem; a star sand doubles player, and this year gets to play her natural position which is libero.  She is outstanding on defense, and led our team in aces this past year.  She gained notoriety as our 'Swiss-Army knife' player because at Nationals, the announcers noticed she is such an all-around success at serve receiving, defense in general, hitting and serving up aces.  And then, of all things, Howard Sudberry asked about that while we were on TV at Arlington Park."
Karolina Sas – Fremd H.S, and Sky High Volleyball club, and Rolling Thunder VBC before Sky High. Karolina committed to Harper a couple years ago and was named High School All-Area.  "While I was watching her in the High School playoffs, I knew we had a college-ready defender coming to Harper – continuing the tradition of our 'defensive frenzy.'"
Leslie Salgado (/Buffalo Grove) – Buffalo Grove H.S. and Top Flight VBC.  Leslie was a very pleasant surprise from Top Flight VBC and Buffalo Grove H.S., who also plays on the soccer team.  "Leslie is quick on defense, has a tough serve and passes nails to the setter."
 
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Bob Vilsoet, is going into his 16^th year coaching and has 449 wins and 250 losses, and now a National Championship.  Bob coaches at Sky High VBC in Palatine, whose 2015, 2016, 2017 and now 2018 Regional teams all earned trips to USAV National Tournaments!  (2015 - American Division, Minneapolis, Minnesota;  2016 - National Division – New Orleans, 2017 - American Division, Indianapolis, IN, and 2018 - American Division in Dallas, TX).  Bob has taken Harper College Volleyball to the National Tournament 5 times over the years.
Assistant Coach Jeanie Behrens is the Club Director for Team Illinois Volleyball (TIV) volleyball club that practices at the Recreation Center in Schaumburg.  In addition, Jeanie is a certified USAV and IHSA volleyball referee.
Assistant Coach Kathy Rinella is the Club Director for Club Palatine VBC for the last 11 years.  Kathy played 4 years of collegiate volleyball at NAIA Division II St. Francis University.
Volunteer Assistant Coach, Kelly Sommers is back helping Harper this year.  Kelly led the NJCAA in Assists her final year at Harper; went on to play volleyball at Concordia and to finish her teaching degree. Kelly is now gaining valuable coaching experience helping out this year at Harper College.  "One day soon, Kelly will be one of the top High School coaches in the area, and I'd like to think that I had something to do with her success," said Harper Coach Bob Vilsoet.