Box Score

Harper defeated Joliet 25-17, 29-27, 25-21

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at Rock Valley

Rockford, IL:  The Region IV Semi finals started with Harper taking a 2-0 lead in the first set, then 7-2, 11-5, 12-8, 13-10, and 13-10.  Joliet closed the gap to 15-13, but Harper extended to 19-14, 22-15 for a 25-17 win.  Harper was hitting on all cylinders, as Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 13 assists.  Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) was unstoppable with 5 kills on 5 attacks.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) had 5 kills on 8 attacks, and Ashley Rothenberg (/Streamwood H.S.) added 3 kills.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) had 6 digs.

The second set was an exciting nail-biter with a lot on the line.  The score started out 2-2, then Harper took the lead 5-2, 9-3, and another copycat run 11-5, 12-8, 13-10, 13-10 and 15-13, exactly like the set before.  But this time Joliet tied the score at 15-15, 16-16 and 17-17 before Harper took a slim lead 20-17, and 23-19 but missed a really close serve.  Rock Valley immediately tied the score at 23-23, 24-24, 25-25, 26-26 and 27-27.  Harper finally won this pivotal second set 29-27.  It is MUCH easier to be ahead 2-0 after an emotionally exhausting set than tied at 1-1.  Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 10 assists.  Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) had 3 kills on 7 attacks.  Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) had 5 kills.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 3 kills.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) had 4 kills on a LOT of swings (20)!  The stat sheet showed Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) with 11 digs; Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) with 12, Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) with 9 digs and Ashley Rothenberg (/Streamwood H.S.) with 9 digs.  Wow, all in this set.  Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) was 4-6 serving with an ace.

Joliet continued to play tough in the third set, with leads of 2-4, 2-6, 5-9, 7-14 and 12-19.  Harper started its comeback to 14-19 but missed a serve, then continued to push 16-20 and 17-21.  After a key sideout, Kelsey Bauer (/Palatine H.S.) stepped up to serve and served 7 points in a row for the 25-21 comeback win and the end of the match.  Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) had 5 kills, Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 3 kills and 2 blocks.  Playing right side, Kathleen Alimorong (/Hoffman Estates H.S.) came in and had 5 digs; and Natalie Asa (/Schaumburg H.S.) had 5 digs; most during Bauer's serving spree, plus 3-3 serving and an ace. 

For the match, Kelsey Bauer (/Palatine H.S.) finished 13-14 with 3 aces.  Nice!  Not to be outdone, Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) was 14-14 serving with an ace, and Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) was 12-13 serving.
 

Harper defeated Rock Valley 25-12, 25-20, 25-14

3:00 p.m. at Rock Valley

So THIS match is for all the marbles.  All the hard work over the last year for the coaching staff; and all the hard work the players put in during practices plus some really tough matches.  Plus all those years of playing club volleyball, paying money and driving here and there to practice and play… comes down to this ONE very important match.

In the first set, Harper took a strong 6-0 lead behind Taylor Pfaller's (/St. Viator) serves.  Rock Valley called a time out.  Harper then led 9-0 before Rock Valley got their first point at 9-1.  Harper extended the lead to 12-5, 13-7, and then 20-8 behind Kayla Agoranos' (/Hampshire H.S.) serves.  Harper won the first match 25-12.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) started out hot with 6 kills on 7 swings.  Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) had 4 kills on 7 swings.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 3 kills on 5 swings.  The passing and offense was running well – Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 13 assists.  Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) was 9-9 serving with  aces.  Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) was 7-7 serving.  This was a true team effort.

In the second set, the scores started out at 2-2, then 5-2, but Rock Valley tied the score at 6-6. Harper executed well and took a 15-10 lead and an 18-13 lead.  Harper continued to push to 20-14 and earned a 25-20 win.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 4 kills.  Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) had 3 kills and a block.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) and Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) each added 2 kills.  Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 11 assists.  Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) led Harper with 4 digs.

In the third set, The score was tied at 5-5, but again sparked by Kayla Agoranos' (/Hampshire H.S.) serves, Harper took a 9-5 lead, and then a 14-6 lead.  Harper continued to push to 20-12 on the way to the 25-14 win.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) added 4 more kills and piled on 3 more blocks.  Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) was 5-5 serving with another ace, and led Harper with 4 digs.
 
Congratulations, Harper College won the 2019 Region IV tournament.
 
Three players from Harper College were named to the 7-player All-Tournament team:  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.), Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) and Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.); although the whole team was deserving.
 
NEXT UP for the HAWKS:  Rochester, Minnesota, for the NJCAA Div III National Championship tournament. Matches will be November 14, 15 & 16.