Harper College defeated D2 Triton College 25-21, 21-25, 25-12, 25-13
At Harper College, September 29, 2022

In the first set, Harper started out flatfooted. Coach Bob Vilsoet called timeout after just 4 points with Harper behind 1-3.  The score was tied several times at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 8-8, 9-9, and 12-12 when Harper took a slim 15-12 lead. Harper held the lead 'til the end at 16-12, 17-15, 19-16 and backed in with the win at 21-18 after a monster smash was hit out of bounds; 22-19 after a missed serve; 23-21 after another hitting error; and finally a 25-21 win for a fortunate 1-0 lead in the match.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) ate her Wheaties and had 7 kills including the last 5 in a row.  Katie Hoffman had 5 kills, and Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had 5 kills.  Setter Gabby Elbrecht (Owings, MD/Northern H.S.) had an unheard of 17 assists.  Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) was all over the place with 10 digs.

In the second set, Harper continued to play nervously and fell behind 0-5, 2-9, 4-11 and 5-13. After a time out, Harper continued to struggle at 7-14, and 10-19.  After a mini-run brought the score to 16-20, Harper fell 20-25.  Tess O'Gara (Chicago/Resurrection H.S.) ended this set with 5 kills on 6 attacks.  Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) added 5 more digs.

In the third set, with Cassie Schweikle (Lombard/Glenbard East H.S.) inserted into the lineup, Harper took leads at 4-3, 7-3 and 12-6.  After a missed serve, Harper extended the lead to 19-9 and 25-12 for the win.  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) was back with another 5 slams.  Katie Hoffman was 4-5 with 4 kills and a block.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) added 4 kills and Tess O'Gara (Chicago/Resurrection H.S.) had 2 blocks.  Jocelyn Mercado (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.), Cana Jones (Walton, IN/Lewis Cass H.S.) and Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) led Harper with 4 digs each.

In the final set, after ties at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3, Harper pulled ahead to stay at 8-4… 10-7 and then zoomed ahead 18-8 behind Jocelyn Mercado's (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) serving and defense;  Harper closed the deal at 23-10 and 25-13 when Cana Jones (Walton, IN/Lewis Cass H.S.) put on a defensive show.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) was on-fire with another NINE kills for a match high of 19 kills – one off her season high of 20 kills. Katie Hofmann (Des Plaines/Elk Grove H.S.) had 5 rejections and a kill for 13 total kills in the match; and Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) hurt Triton with 3 more kills for 15 for the match.  Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had 9 digs in this set;  Cana Jones (Walton, IN/Lewis Cass H.S.) had 7 digs, and Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) had 6 more digs for a match high 25 digs.

Several shout-outs -

Coach Bob Vilsoet said, "I was very comfortable with the play of the back row players, libero Alyssa Rodda (Inverness/Barrington H.S.) had 25 digs; Cana Jones (Walton, IN/Lewis Cass H.S.) had 13 digs – 7 in the last set – she was all over the place -shades of Kayla Mayer; and Jocelyn Mercado (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) who had 15 digs and served 10 times in that last set!  Asia Williams (Hoffman Estates/Conant H.S.) was also 10-10 serving tonight!"

Coach Bob Vilsoet also said, "It's about time we had some hitters that had some kills in the teens during a match… Natalia Smiech (Sleepy Hollow/Dundee-Crown H.S.) had 19 kills, one off from her career high;  Abbie Greenberg (Schaumburg/Schaumburg H.S.) had 15 kills; Katie Hofmann (Des Plaines/Elk Grove H.S.) had 13 kills; and Tess O'Gara (Chicago/Resurrection H.S.) added 10 kills plus a broken floorboard near the Triton bench." 

Bob Vilsoet added, "After having to check the record book the other day for Gabby Elbrecht's (Owings, MD/Northern H.S.) terrific setting day, I have to check it again tonight… THIS time she had 55 assists in this 4-set match -puts her right up there in second place all time, right behind Nikki Maize back in 2007 with 58 assists when #8 Harper College defeated #4 Rock Valley in 4 sets.  And put today's effort ahead of some terrific 4-set matches from Jeanie Janz in 2002 (54 assists AND 53 assists), Alyssa Cazzato in 2011 (54 assists), Lindsey Murphy in 2013 (54 assists) and Lauren Baker in 2005 (53 assists).  These are legendary Harper setters over the years.  This is rare air for Gabby! 
 

This match was live streamed, and can be found on YouTube… Harper Gymnasium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrhThcLhqLs&t=6436s

Next match is at Madison on Tuesday, August 4;  Then Milwaukee at Harper on Thursday, August 6.

GO HAWKS!!!