Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 Harper Volleyball at Rockford UW Sports Factory Friday/Saturday, August 18/19, 2023
Rockford, IL: Harper Volleyball traveled to the Opening Weekend Tournament (OWT) at the UW Health Factory in Rockford, IL. After many years, this is still the largest 2-year college tournament in the country. Harper won two matches and lost two matches.

Friday, Aug 18, 11:00 a.m. at Rockford's UW Sports Factory
DIII unranked Harper College lost to DIII Century College (4th) in three sets: 22-25, 18-25, 14-25.

In set 1, there were 11 ties in this set (3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 12-12, 14-14, 15-15, 17-17 and 22-22), but then Harper lost the last 3 points, 22-25. Taylor Knuth came out firing with 5 kills, but Harper hitters amassed 13 hitting errors on the way to this very closely fought contest. Cana Jones had 6 digs, and Ava Belluomini had 5 digs. Regina Anelli was 6-6 serving.

In set 2, Harper started out well and had a 9-7 lead, but lost it in one bad rotation, and fell behind 9-14, on the way to an 18-25 loss. Knuth led Harper with 3 kills again. Harper hitters amassed another 8 hitting errors. Harper had just 9 digs, led by Claudia Lysek's 3 digs while playing just half a game. Abby Major was 5-5 serving with an ace.

In set 3, Harper was never really in it, after starting out 3-3, but then lost 14-25. Stacy Maimur came alive with 4 kills and a block. Kaylee Obrzut led Harper with 5 digs. 

Friday, Aug 18, 3:00 p.m. at Rockford's UW Sports Factory
DIII unranked Harper College defeated DIII Rochester Community and Technical College (14th) in four sets: 24-26, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23.

In the first set, there were ties at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 8-8, 10-10 and 11-11, before Harper took a seemingly commanding lead at 19-14; but Rochester fought bact to tie the score at 23-23. Despite a howitzer blast from Knuth and a 24-23 Harper lead, Rochester won the last 3 points to win the first set 23-25. Maimur led Harper with 3 kills and a block. Jones set a nice defensive tone with 6 digs at libero.

In set 2, Harper took a 12-7 lead and extended the lead to 19-16… and nursed its way to a 25-22 win. Knuth and Maya Sokolowski each had 4 kills. Setter Eden Suh logged 13 assists. Obrzut had 7 digs at libero. Belluomini was 6-7 serving with an ace. Knuth added 2 aces, as well.

In set 3, Harper took a 6-1 lead, and extended to 12-6. Rochester closed the gap to 14-12, but that was as close as Rochester could get. Harper led 22-16 on the way to a 25-18 win. Belluomini got loose for 5 kills on 8 attacks. Maimur added 4 kills. Suh had 12 assists in this set. Obrzut added another 8 digs, and Belluomini had 7 digs. Knuth was 7-7 serving with an Ace. Asia Williams was terrific serving as well with 7-8 serving and 2 aces.

It was another barn-burner in the 4th Set. Harper led 10-6, and extended to 16-9, and 17-11. But after an innocent service mistake suddenly Harper found itself tied at 20-20. On a very 'loud' line shot from Belluomini, the score was tied again 22-22. Harper took a 23-22 lead, then 24-22 before winning 25-23 to win the match. Maimur added 4 more kills for 12 total for the match. Knuth added 3 kills for a team-high 14 kills. Obrzut logged 10 digs, and Williams served for 2 more aces for 4 aces in the match. Obrzut was also 7-8 serving with 2 aces and also had 4 aces for the match.

Saturday, Aug 19, 9:00 a.m. at Rockford's UW Sports Factory
DIII unranked Harper College defeated DI Kaskaskia in four sets: 12-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-23.

In set 1, there were several ties at the beginning as both teams were hammering points… 3-3, 5-5, 6-6 and 8-8; but then Harper lost its grip and lost 12-25. Knuth had 2 kills and a block, and Lysek added an ace.

In set 2, there were a boatload of ties at 1-1, 3-3, 4-4, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18, and 19-19. Harper took seemingly a commanding 23-19 lead behind Suh's strong serving, but then Kaskaskia tied the score at 23-23. Harper did score the last two points to win 25-23 to knot the match as a set apiece. Belluomini came into the match and had 6 kills and 9 digs in this set! Knuth added 4 kills, and Suh finished with 12 assists. Suh was also 8-8 serving with 2 aces.

In set 3, Harper took a 7-0 lead behind Jasmine Nitu's serving that included an amazing 5 aces. Harper continued to extend to a lopsided 15-3 lead, before winning 25-15. Knuth led Harper with 4 kills and a block. Nitu finished this set 7-9 serving with 5 aces. Suh was 6-6 serving with an ace.

In the 4th set, there were ties again at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 8-8, 12-12, 13-13, 14-14 ,15-15, 16-16, 17-17 and 18-18. Harper finally took a 24-21 lead behind Anelli's serving, before barely winning 25-23 to escape and win the match. Knuth stayed hot with 4 more kills and 2 blocks. Nitu continued her torrid serving trend with 8-8 serving and 2 aces; Nitu had 8 aces to lead Harper in the match.

Eden Suh tallied the first statistical double-double of the season with 13 digs and 37 assists.  Ava Belluomini, not to be outdone had 10 kills and 18 digs.

Saturday, Aug 19, 3:00 p.m. at Rockford's UW Sports Factory
DIII unranked Harper College lost to Central Lakes (15th) in 5 sets: 22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-11, 14-16.

In the first set, after a 4-hour wait, Harper fell way behind 1-9. Harper was playing catch-up the remainder of the match… 5-11, 12-15, 14-16, 16-18, 17-19, 17-21, 20-23, 21-23, fpr a 22-25 loss. Every time Harper came close, out came the proverbial gun and off went the foot. Knuth was unstoppable with 6 kills and a block; plus was 5-5 serving including 2 aces. But, she was the only cylinder hitting. Obrzut did add 7 digs.

In the second set, there were ties at 2-2, 16-16, then 20-20, 21-21, and 22-22, before Harper fell 23-25. Knuth added another 4 kills and Anelli had 9 digs!

In the third set, despite no lineup changes, Harper's fortune changed… There were ties at 11-11, 12-12, 13-13… 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22, but this time Harper prevailed 25-22, setting up a 4th set. A very steady Knuth added 4 more kills. Anelli had 5 digs and 2 aces in this narrow victory.

In set 4, Harper took an 8-4 lead, extended to 12-5, 13-7, 16-8 and 20-9 before winning 25-11. In this set, Maimur came alive with 7 kills and 2 blocks. Knuth was 8-9 serving with 4 aces. Obrzut and Anelli each had 5 digs.

In set 5, and with the momentum, but with Central Lakes outside hitting stud discarding the ice and jumping back into the match; Harper led 5-4 and 9-5, 10-6 and 14-10; but the wheels fell off in the final rotation – Central Lakes won the side out scored 5 more points in a row to win 16-14. Both Sokolowski and Knuth each had 4 kills. Suh logged 9 assists in this 15-point set. Obrzut even had 9 digs and Anelli had 5 digs on the way to this "almost win".

This match was a roller coaster. Harper lost the first 2 sets, then won the next 2 sets, took a 14-10 lead in the 5th and deciding set but couldn't close the win.

Eden Suh logged her second statistical double-double of the season with 10 digs and 46 assists.

In regards to the opening weekend, Coach Bob Vilsoet said, "This weekend is a very encouraging start to a new season. But… it was also encouraging for several other top-ten quality DIII teams – Owens, Century, Central Lakes, College of DuPage, Joliet, and of course, Harper College."

Harper's next match is Wednesday, August 23rd, at Milwaukee Area Technical College at 7:00 PM.