Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Tri-Match at Heartland 9-3-2021
D3 #3 Harper College defeated D2 Lincoln Trail 25-19, 25-10, 25-21
Friday, Sept 3, 3:00 p.m. at Heartland College.
In the first set, Harper started out slow, but tied the score at 6-6. Then there were several tie scores at 7-7, 9-9, 12-12, 13-13, 16-16 and 17-17; before Harper was finally able to gain an edge at 21-17, and finally a 25-19 win. The secret was (shhh, don't tell…), stop serving and hitting at their libero! Harper was led by Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) with 4 kills; Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) had 3 kills on 4 attacks and 3 rejections. Vicky Gorny led Harper with 8 digs and was 8-8 serving.
In the second set, Harper started out 7-1 behind Natalia Smiech's (/Dundee-Crown) serves following the same strategy. Harper then led 9-4, 15-7 and then 20-7 behind Jules Carusiello's (/Hersey H.S.) serves on the way to a 25-10 win. Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) led Harper again with 4 kills on 4 attacks and another block. Vicky Gorny had 5 digs in this set. Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) was 6-6 serving.
In the 3rd set, a determined Lincoln Trail team played Harper on a VERY VERY long rally at 1-2 when Harper finally made an error on the rally. The score was then tied at 5-5, 6-6, 8-8, and 9-9 before Harper pulled ahead a bit behind Jocelyn Mercado's (/Schaumburg) serves for a 16-12 lead. Harper continued to close the match with 22-17 and 23-18 leads. Lincoln Trail pushed to 24-20, but missed their serve on game point. Katie Hofmann (/Elk Grove) finished this match with 4 more kills, for a team high 11 kills in the match. Vicky Gorny added 3 kills, 5-5 serving and 9 more digs in this final set.
For the match, Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had a pretty healthy 28 assists. Vicky Gorny finished the match with 22 digs and 7 kills. Libero Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.) finished with 16 digs.
D3 #3 Harper College lost to D2 #16 Heartland College 17-25, 24-26, 22-25
Friday, Sept 3, 5:00 p.m. at Heartland College
In set 1, Heartland had a potent offense along with a very solid defense and took control the enter set. Heartland was ahead 7-10 and 8-14 on the way to a 17-25 win. Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East), hitting outside led Harper with 3 kills. Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) and Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) each had 5 digs.
In set 2, Harper adjusted to Heartland's big hitters with some defense of their own. Harper jumped out to leads of 4-1 and 8-5… then Heartland tied the score several times at 11-11, 12-12, 14-14, 18-18. Harper pulled ahead 20-18 on 2 serves from Jules Carusiello (/Hersey H.S.). But naturally, Heartland tied the score at 20-20 and 21-21. Harper held a 24-22 lead and needed a pass on either serve to win the match, but just couldn't get the quality pass required, and the score was tied at 24-24. Heartland went on to win 26-24, scoring the last 4 points in a row. Most everything was clicking for Harper in this set. Setter Taylor Pfaller (/St. Viator) had 12 assists. Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) ad 3 kills, as did the other outside hitter Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown). Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) had 7 more digs, and Natalia Smiech (/Dundee-Crown) had 6 digs.
In set 3, Harper was exhausted playing 6 tough sets in a row, and just couldn't keep up. Heartland sped out to a 3-6 lead, then 5-12 and 6-16 before winning 11-25. Harper only had 7 kills in this final set. Cassie Schweikle (/Glenbard East) led Harper with 4 digs in this final set. Harper had only 8 digs in the entire set.
Heartland started out ranked #20 in D2, and is currently ranked #16 in D2. They are still underrated.
Harper's next match is Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. against D3 #6 ranked Rock Valley. Rock Valley is hot off a terrific win today where they defeated D3 #1 Owens College in a 4-set win. Tuesday should be a great showdown!
