Palatine, IL:  Harper Hawks Women's Volleyball traveled to Kankakee to play a Tri-match against Kankakee College and John Wood College. 

In the first set, there was a string of ties at 2-2, 5-5, and 8-8.  Harper took what appeared to be a commanding lead 13-9, but Kankakee tied the score at 13-13.  Harper fell behind 14-18 and called timeout.  Fortunately, Harper stormed back to tie the score at 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20.  Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) served an ace to tie the score yet again at 22-22.  Harper took a 24-23 lead and ultimately won this close set 26-24.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had an excellent set with 4 kills on 10 attacks.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 4 kills on 7 attacks, an assist and a rejection.  Vicky Gorny added 3 kills.  Setter Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) had 13 assists.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) had 6 digs, Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) had 6 digs, Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) had 5 digs, and Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) added 4 digs in this extended set.  Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) was 6-6 serving with 2 aces.

With the momentum from the first set, Harper jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the second set;  then 11-6 and 18-7 behind some strong serving from Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East).  Harper went on to win 25-11.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) continued her domination with 5 kills on 10 attacks and another block-assist.  Vicky Gorny added 4 more kills.  Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) added another 10 assists.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) had another 6 digs.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 6 digs, and Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) added 5 more digs.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) was 5-5 serving with 2 aces, and Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) was 5-5 serving with 2 aces.

In the third set, Harper fell behind 1-5, and 2-8, but stormed back again to tie the score at 9-9 and 10-10.  Harper fell behind in one rotation 10-14, but tied the score up at 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16.  Harper took a slim 19-17 lead, but Kankakee tied the score yet again at 19-19.  Harper took a 22-19 lead and then finished the set 25-21 for the match win.  Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) earned 5 kills, while Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates) added 3 kills and a block-assist.  Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) had 12 assists.  Jocelyn had 6 digs, Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) had 6 digs, and Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 5 digs.  Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) added 4 more digs for a match high 16 digs, although Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) and Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) each finished the match right behind her with 15 digs.  Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) was 5-5 serving while Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) was 5-6 serving.  Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) finished with 6 rejections in this match.

Game 2: John Wood 

This is Harper College's first ever match against John Wood College.  Harper played a masterful match today, winning in 3 straight sets.  The ball just landed Harper's way.

In set 1, the score started out tight at 2-2 and 3-3. But Harper, playing well took a strong 16-11 lead, and then extended to 20-13 for a 25-16 win.  Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) started out hot with 5 kills on 8 attacks in this set.  Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) added 4 kills on her last 4 swings.  Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates) had 3 kills, and Vicky Gorny had 3 kills.  Setter Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) ended this set with 15 assists.  Playing libero, Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) led Harper with 5 digs.  Vicky Gorny added 4 more digs.  Vicky Gorny was 6-6 serving with an ace.

In set 2, there were ties at 2-2, 4-4, 7-7 and 8-8, before Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) got loose for 5 points and a 13-8 lead.  Harper extended to 16-9, then 19-10, 20-11 before winning 25-18.  Vicky Gorny took the scalding torch from Rugile and had 8 kills in this set and a block and an assist.  Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) added 3 more kills, and setter Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) ended this set with 12 assists.  Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington) and Vicky Gorny each added 4 more digs.  Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) was 7-7 serving with 3 aces. 

In the final set, Harper started out 2-4, but behind some strong Vicky Gorny jump serves, Harper took an 8-4 lead, then kept the 4-point margin for most of the set… 12-8, 14-10, 16-12… Harper extended the lead while playing very well to 18-12, and then behind strong serving from Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator), continued to a 22-11 lead, and then a 25-14 win.  This was one of those master piece matches and felt good for the Hawks.  In this 3rd set, it was Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East)-s turn to shine – Cassie had 5 kills on 11 swings.  Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove), Patricia Wadas (/Hoffman Estates) and Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) each added 3 kills. John Wood switched their attack strategy as setter Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) ended this set with 12 digs; and Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) fought back with 7-8 serving with 3 aces!  Vicky Gorny was also 8-8 serving in this set.

Next week will be a fun one for Harper College!  Harper hosts D3 #6 ranked College of DuPage on Tuesday; then travels to D3 #1 ranked Rock Valley on Thursday. Rock Valley is ranked #1 by virtue of them defeating 2-time national champion Owens College earlier this season – at Owens.

Over the weekend, Harper will be in Springfield playing Allen County (3 PM Friday), Lincoln Land (5 PM Friday), Black Hawk College (noon Saturday) and D2 #4 ranked Sauk Valley (2:00 P.M. Saturday).