Harper volleyball in winning mode
The Harper College women’s volleyball team won a pair of games last week and took two out of three in tournament play, giving the team victories in eight of its last nine games.
The Hawks defeated McHenry Community College last Thursday and defeated College of DuPage last Tuesday. Both victories took only three games.
Harper (16-5 overall, 4-1 in conference play) then played three games at the Illinois Valley Invitational last weekend, going 2-1. The team’s only tournament loss came to Waubonsee Community College in the opener; the Hawks rebounded to beat host Illinois Valley and the Aurora University JV team.
Harper sophmore outside hitter Lauren LaMasse (Hoffman Estates ) and freshman libero Andraia Leja were named to the Illinois Valley All-Tournament team.
On Tuesday, the Hawks continued their winning ways with a victory over Milwaukee Area Technical College. They’ll go on the road for a scheduled game Thursday at Madison.
The Hawks then host the six-team Harper Invite this weekend, with games slated for Friday and Saturday.
Ÿ Harper’s men’s cross country team is fresh off finishing 15th overall in a strong 32-team mixed field at last weekend’s Illinois Intercollegiate at Illinois State University.
The Hawks were the highest-placing NJCAA member school.
Pablo Ramirez (Conant) finished 19th overall in 25:03.
“I thought the kids ran real well,” said Harper coach Jim Macnider.
The Hawks are ranked No. 2 in this week’s NJCAA Division III poll. SUNY-Delhi is ranked No. 1.
“I think man-for-man we are as good as (SUNY-Delhi),” Macnider said.
The Hawks have to turn around and get right back on the bus. This time it’s off to Minnesota, where the Hawks will run in the Griak Invite.
“Its a prestige meet,” Macnider said. “We are working pretty hard right now — I think it will pay off in a few more weeks.”
Macnider says freshmen Zach Gates (Palatine) and Troy Cunningham (Conant) are feeling the effects of running the longer 8k distance, but he’s optimistic about the season in progress.
“We keep improving, top to bottom,” Macnider said.
ŸThe Harper women’s soccer team has been idle since Sept. 14, when the Hawks suffered a 3-2 loss to Joliet Junior College.
The Hawks (4-2 overall, 2-2 in the North Central Community College Conference), next play Saturday and Sunday at Yellow Jacket Invite hosted by Rochester Technical College (Minn).
The Hawks play the Century Wood Ducks (White Bear Lake, Minn.) at 6 p.m. Sunday the Hawks play the host Yellow Jackets at noon. The Minnesota trip includes the first of seven regular-season games on the road.
Ÿ The Harper College men’s soccer team kicked off a four-game homestand Wednesday afternoon and defeated Milwaukee Area Technical College 3-2.
Next Monday, Triton College pays the Hawks (3-5) a visit. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
The Trojans (6-0 overall, 3-0 N4C) are ranked No. 4 in the current NJCAA Division III poll. The Trojans have defeated the Hawks the last two seasons in the NJCAA Region IV finals.