Harper women's volleyball squad faces difficult regional challenge

Ranked fourth nationally and with a 32-13 record, Harper College's women's volleyball team seems well positioned for the postseason.

But there's a big challenge ahead for Hawks in Region IV, Division III NJCAA playoff action, thanks to a pair of losses to Rock Valley College (24-14).

The Hawks, winners of their last seven games, earned the region's No. 3 seed for this weekend's tournament at Joliet Junior College.

"The girls realized they're a good team," coach Bob Vilsoet said. "Whether you are seeded two or three, it makes no difference."

And the Hawks' first-round opponent at noon Saturday? Rock Valley. Vilsoet is confident his team is capable of a better performance than the first time it met Rock Valley, which was a three-game sweep.

"We played awful," Vilsoet said.

Unranked to begin the season, the Golden Eagles have steadily improved all year. In a second meeting against Harper, Rock Valley prevailed in five sets.

"They made a couple of adjustments we didn't see coming," Vilsoet said.

The winner between No. 3 seed Harper and No. 2 Rock Valley will likely meet top seed Madison Area Technical College for the regional champonship later Saturday afternoon.

"It's going to be hard to win two games in a row," said Vilsoet, who expects only a 30-minute break between games. "Either us or Rock Valley are going to be spent.:

Meghan Chartier (Buffalo Grove) and Lauren Sokolowski (Rolling Meadows) have shared in leading Harper this season.

"(Chartier) deserves to be an All-American" Vilsoet said of his libero who leads the country with 806 digs. "She's had an absolutely fantastic year."