Box Score Palatine, IL:  In the first set the score was even several times… 1-1, 2-2 3-3, before Harper took a slim 7-4 lead.  Madison tied the score at 8-8 and 9-9.  Harper fell way behind at 11-17, but attempted a gallant comeback… 15-20… 17-21… 20-21 and finally tied the score at 21-21… only to lose the next 4 points and lose 21-25.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) had 5 kills in this opening match.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had 7 kills! Gabby Elbrecht (Owings, MD/Northern H.S.) had 14 assists in this close set.  Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) was 7-7 serving.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) was 6-6 serving.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had an amazing 10 digs, while libero Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) added 6 digs.

There were several more ties in the second set at 1-1, 6-6, and 7-7.  Harper took a strong 14-8 lead, and then 16-10, 19-12 and 21-14 before winning 25-16 to even the match at 1 set apiece.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) was 7-7 serving with 2 aces.  Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) added another 6 digs.

This pivotal third set was VERY close the entire set!  The score was knotted 10 times in the set.  The game started out 1-1, 2-2, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7… then 11-11.  Harper took a slim 16-13 lead.  Madison tied the score again at 16-16. Harper took another slim lead at 19-17, only to see Madison tie the set up at 19-19 each, again.  After another tie at 22-22, Harper took a 24-22 lead and won 25-23.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had 4 more kills, and Katie Hofmann (Des Plaines/Elk Grove H.S.) earned 4 kills on her last 4 swings.  Gabby Elbrecht (Owings, MD/Northern H.S.) had 10 assists.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) was fortunate and was 9-9 serving in this set!  Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) added 9 digs.

In the 4^th set, another close one ensued….  There were ties at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 4-4 and 5-5.  Harper lost the next 5 points to fall behind 5-10.  Harper struggled to tie the score and continued behind at 9-14, but indeed did tie the score with 5 points in a row at 14-14.  More ties at 15-15, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19 before Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) was able to score 3 points on her serve for a 22-19 lead.  Madison tied the score yet again at 22-22, but Harper won the last three points to win 25-22.  Katie Hofmann (Des Plaines/Elk Grove H.S.) continued her hot streak with 5 more kills.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) added 4 digs.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) was 6-6 serving and led Harper with 24 serves in this 4-set match.