Hawks volleyball team set for big year

Harper College women's volleyball won't have the thrill of the quick kill.

Instead, the Hawks will be trying to slowly wear their opponents down this season.

"What we had last year was some real star power," said Harper coach Bob Vilsoet. "This year we'll be a defensive, ball-control club. Every point will be a long rally and it will be up to us to minimize mistakes.

"It's just a different style. We don't have the stars to terminate the point like we did before."

But Vilsoet has no reason to be defensive about a program that finished fifth in the NJCAA Division III national tournament, set a school record for wins at 38-8 and won all 8 of its N4C matches.

Vilsoet still has two top-notch returnees from his third national tourney tteam since 2002. Setter Karlee Didier (Hoffman Estates) was third in the nation in assists per game and had more than 1,000 for the season.

Another Hoffman product, 6-foot Lisa LaMasse, is a returning all-conference middle hitter who had 170 blocks.

"She's very aggressive and very mobile," Vilsoet said. "She's a very, very good blocker."

There are also some solid newcomers. Nikki Maize (Elk Grove) was an all-area setter and libero Katie Reed (Conant) was special mention all-area.

"We'll be just as good as we were last year there," Vilsoet said.

Vilsoet hopes he can replace talented outside hitters with Christy Lima (Rolling Meadows), Aprille Richter (Hoffman), Diane Janik (Conant) and Brittany Burzawa (Joliet). Angie Skoneiczny will be in the middle.

Burzawa didn't play last year and Janik was going to Harper all along and decided to play after talking to Reed.

"If we have a problem we have to worry about it's injury or ineligibility," Vilsoet said of having only nine players on the roster.

Vilsoet expects Rock Valley to be Harper's biggest obstacle to a third straight N4C title. He also beefed up the schedule to include McHenry (three times), Moraine Valley and Oakton.

"We want to win the country," Vilsoet said. "That's the goal here so we're playing a difficult schedule to prepare for that."

Harper lost 4 of 5 games in a practice match Tuesday with Robert Morris. Lima had 13 kills, Reed had 24 digs, LaMasse had 12 kills and 11 blocks and Richter had 5 kills. Janik had 19 digs, Skoneiczny 8 blocks and Maize and Didier had 25 and 16 assists respectively.

Harper is at the College of DuPage invite this weekend and hosts South Suburban at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Ready to rebound: Last year was the first time in seven years the Harper women's soccer team failed to reach the Region IV title match.

"We're looking to have a better season than last year," said Harper coach Dwayne Cruz of a team that lost in the semifinals and finished just above .500.

The Hawks, who have won the Region title twice under Cruz, return center-midfielder Nicole Eide (Hersey) and versatile Sam Witzcak. Cruz said Witzcak may start the season in the back and eventually finish up top.

"Nicole has done a great job for us," Cruz said. "Sam was huge for us last year defensively and offensively."

The top newcomers are forward Jenna Schneider (Hoffman Estates) and defender Corinne Hooper (Huntley). Schneider trains with and has played club soccer for Cruz since she was 8.

"Technically she's one of the best players in the Region," Cruz said.

Schneider should fit in Cruz's typical style of attacking teams. The Hawks biggest battle figures to be with COD.

"Our starting 11 looks pretty good, just as good as any starting 11 in the area," Cruz said. "If we can stay healthy I think we can beat them."

Harper opens at noon Sunday at Heartland Community College in Normal. It hosts Joliet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in an N4C match.

Committed to succeed: Harper's hopes of a Region IV title three-peat in men's soccer were dashed in penalty kicks by Joliet in last year's final.

But sixth-year coach Jason Diebold expects to have more firepower to ensure there is no repeat of last year.

"Our offense is going to be our strength this year, which is a change probably from all my years past," Diebold said. "We're really top-heavy in that regard."

Having center-midfielder Wally Madsen back from a one-year layoff helps. Madsen was an integral part of the Region IV champions two years ago.

"He's a quality, quality soccer player who could play anywhere," Diebold said.

And left-midfielder Bart Krupinski is back from last year's 10-6 team.

"He's a very talented player as well," Diebold said. "He has a high level of commitment to the program. Everything he does, he does full speed."

Center-defender Scott Briarton and forwards Alan Ramirez and Miljan Jovic are other key returnees. Diebold isn't sure which of his newcomers will have the biggest impact.

"I really have to see them play in a game first before I can make any judgment to how they'll help us," Diebold said. "We do have good soccer players, though."

Diebold didn't think today's scheduled opener at Kishwaukee would be played because of the inclement weather. Harper gets another shot at Joliet on the road at 4 p.m. Tuesday.