Box Score
Palatine, IL: Harper College won its home opener tonight against Joliet. But it wasn't without it's moments.
Harper College lost the first set 23-25. Harper started out OK with leads of 4-1, and 12-9. But Joliet tied the score at 12-12, and 15-15, and again at 18-18. Joliet continued to play well and took an 18-21 lead. At 21-21, Joliet hit a ball flying out of bounds, but Harper accidentally played it, and fell behind 21-22. Harper came back, and tied the score one more time at 23-23, before Joliet won the set with the final two points.
Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) led Harper with 4 kills.
Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 9 assists.
Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) had 6 digs.
In the second set, the score was tied 7-7 early, but Harper scored the next 3 points on
Kayla Agoranos' (/Hampshire H.S.) serves and never looked back for a 25-13 win. In this set,
Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) hit 4 more kills and earned a block.
Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) entered the game and had 4 kills on 4 consecutive sets in the middle of the set.
Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 11 assists.
Natalie Asa (/Schaumburg H.S.) led Harper with 5 digs.
Rachel Kandefer (/Elk Grove H.S.) found her form with 9 of 9 serving including an ace.
Kayla Agoranos (/Hampshire H.S.) was 5-5 serving.
The third set started similarly… there were ties at 1-1, 4-4, 5-5 and 7-7 again, plus 8-8. Harper took a 10-8 lead before missing a serve. Soon after,
Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) stepped up and served 8 consecutive times including 2 aces for a 22-12 lead, and then Harper won 25-17.
Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) was a force with 4 kills on 8 attacks and 2.5 blocks.
Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) added 3 more kills and was 9-9 serving with 2 aces.
Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 9 assists.
Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) added 5 digs.
The final set saw Harper take an early 3-0 lead; then 7-2, and 14-9 on the way to a 25-13 win.
Amelia Reiter (/Crystal Lake South H.S.) added 3 more kills to get into double-digits for kills (10) in the match.
Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) added 8 more assists, but more importantly, got loose for 13 of 13 serving with 4 aces.
NEXT UP – On Friday and Saturday, September 13 & 14, Harper will play St. Ambrose JV BLUE, a new team from Spoon River (Canton, IL), St. Ambrose JV White, and Bryant and Stratton from Wisconsin. The fun starts Friday, at 1:00 p.m. at Rock Valley College.
NEXT WEEK – Two conference matches. Harper at Milwaukee Area Technical College on September 17 at Alverno College in Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m.; and home vs Triton on Thursday, September 19, 6:00 p.m..
Harper is now 2-0 in N4C Conference play and 3-0 in Region IV.
