Box Score Glen Ellyn, IL: 10/21/2021

Harper defeated College of DuPage in a 5-set nail biter.  Hopefully this puts Harper College back in the Top-10 poll.  This was an instant classic 5-set match with a lot on the line.

It was Sophomore night tonight at College of DuPage.  Harper's 5 Sophomores were honored, as well… Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.), Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator), Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates), Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) and Vicky Gorny.
 
In the first set, after being tied up at 3-3, Harper jumped out to a 9-5 lead when College of DuPage called timeout.  Harper extended the lead to a healthy 16-9, and then 18-12.  College of DuPage stormed back quickly 18-14, 18-17 and tied the score at 19-19.  The score was tied again at 21-21, but College of DuPage completed the comeback win 22-25.  This moved momentum significantly in favor of College of DuPage.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) led Harper with 3 kills and 2 block-kills.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 3 bombs for kills.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) led Harper with 7 digs.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) added 5 digs.

In the second set, Harper scraped to ties at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.  College of DuPage took control and never relinquished it with leads of 11-15, 13-17, 16-20 and a 17-25 win for College of DuPage.  Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) led Harper with 2 kills and a block.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) and Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) each had 5 digs.

In the third set, Harper stunned College of DuPage with an 8-2 lead when College of DuPage called timeout.  After the timeout, Harper extended the lead to 12-4 and 15-9.  Harper led 18-10 and 19-13 before winning 25-18 and swiping back the momentum, which sometimes is difficult to shift in good volleyball matches.  Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) led Harper with 4 hard-earned kills.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 3 kills.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) led Harper with 4 digs.

In the fourth set, Harper fell behind 4-6… and couldn't quite catch up at 5-8, 6-0, 8-11, until Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) served to tie the score at 12-12.  Harper lost their grip at 13-15… and 16-18 and 19-21, but tied the score at 21-21 and 22-22 before winning 25-22 and setting the stage for an electrifying 5^th set.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 3 kills and Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 3 kills to lead Harper.  Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) led Harper with 7 digs.  Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) had 5 digs, and Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) had 5 digs.

In the Fifth set, predictably there were ties at 1-1, 2-2, 5-5 and 6-6 before COD scored the next 4 points in a row to take a 6-10 lead.  Harper quickly answered back with 4 points and tied the score at 10-10, when a fan had to leave the match early…  Harper took a 12-10 lead, but College of DuPage countered at 12-12… then… 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, 16-16 and an 18-16 win for Harper College.  In this set, Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates) was strong with 4 kills on 6 attacks to lead Harper.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 2 kills and 2 large block-kills in this final deciding set.  Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) led Harper with 4 digs.
For the Match, Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.), Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates) and Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) each had 11 kills.  Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) had 10 kills.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) led Harper with 24 digs, and Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) had 19 digs.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) led Harper with 5 blocks.  Setter Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 43 assists. Harper served 93% for the match, but had just 7 aces. 
 
Tonight was a well-played match by both teams, and a win for Harper College.
 
Harper College needed to defeat College of DuPage to be eligible to be in the Regional Playoffs, OR a win by Madison over Joliet would also have done the trick. Turns out Madison did indeed defeat Joliet, tonight. 

The Regional Playoff Pairings will be official on Sunday Night, but unofficially; #4 seed Harper will travel to play #1 Seed Rock Valley on Thursday, October 28 (on coach Bob Vilsoet's Mother's birthday – 94 year's old) while #2 seed Madison College due to the set tiebreaker will host #3 seed College of DuPage who will have to drive a LONG way… Match time will be 6:00 p.m.  The two winners will square up and play on Saturday, at noon, hosted by the higher seed still standing.

According to Coach Bob Vilsoet, "So, Madison is the #2 seed in this Rugged Region IV… but Rock Valley, Harper College and College of DuPage will likely be in the final Top-10 rankings.  The voters need 'assistance'.  There are 4 East Coast teams in the Top 10, and no team from Texas;  4 or 5 teams from Region IV belong in the Top 10 this year."

Harper's next match will be at Lake Michigan College on Saturday, October 23, in Benton Harbor.  First match will be at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time) against Ancilla College, and the second match will be right after that against Grace Lutheran College at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time).