Palatine, IL: 9/28/2021 

Harper College lost in 3 sets to College of DuPage. This loss ended a 43-match win streak dating back to September 9, 2004… a 17-year win streak was finally snapped. 

Kudo's to College of DuPage putting together this team this year!  

In Set 1, the match started out relatively even at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 6-6.  But Harper fell behind quickly at 8-13 on the way to a 15-25 loss.  College of DuPage had weapons everywhere, and didn't even need them all on the way to a 15-25 loss for Harper College.  Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) was back in the lineup finally and had 3 kills on her last 3 swings.  Vicky Gorny added 3 kills, and Katie Hoffman had 3 kills.  Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) led Harper with 5 digs.  Daniela Pineda (/Buffalo Grove) led Harper with 4-4 serving.

In Set 2, Harper started out 0-8 before scoring a point.  Harper trailed 2-11, and 5-15 on the way to a 15-25 loss.  Harper gave up points quickly and in droves during this set.  Vicky Gorny had 4 kills for Harper, and Rugile Jaciunas (/Wheeling H.S.) had 3 kills and Harper's only block in this set.  Alyssa Rodda (/Barrington), playing libero had 8 digs.  Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) added another 5 digs.  Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) and Vicky Gorny each had 4 digs.  Jocelyn Mercado (/Schaumburg) led Harper with 4-5 serving, and was 11-11 on service receptions.

In Set 3, Harper was tied at 3-3 and 5-5, but fell behind 5-10.  Harper stormed back to 10-10, and tied the score 11-11 and 12-12 before giving up another trove of points on the way to a 19-25 loss.  Vicky Gorny had 5 kills and a block during this final set.  Natalie Smiech and Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) each had 4 digs to lead Harper.  Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) led Harper with 6-6 serving and 3 aces.

Harper finished this match with 6 fewer kills than College of DuPage, and 10 more hitting errors.  DuPage also had 10 aces against Harper's band of serve receivers.

AND Things don't get any easier for the Hawks this week.  Hawks travel to Rockford on Thursday, September 30, to play D3 #1 Rock Valley.  Rock Valley won in 3 last time they played this year at Harper. 

This weekend, Harper plays all D2 teams at Lincoln Land College and plays Allen County and Lincoln Land on Friday, and Black Hawk and #4 ranked Sauk Valley on Saturday.