Harper volleyball not afraid to look ahead

Looking ahead is looked down upon in sports.

But the Harper College women's volleyball team is thinking ahead in this weekend's Region IV tournament at the College of Lake County.

"We are ready and I think we can do it," said Harper sophomore middle hitter Lisa LaMasse.

"We feel pretty confident," said Harper sophomore defensive specialist Karlee Didier.

And the Hawks (28-22), ranked eighth in the final NJCAA Division III poll, are talking about an anticipated 2 p.m. Saturday title match with sixth-ranked Rock Valley (30-14). A berth in the Nov. 16-17 national tournament in Rochester, Minn., at stake.

The fast-forward approach is just fine with Harper coach Bob Vilsoet, whose second-seeded team faces No. 3 Joliet at 6 p.m. today.

"Since the beginning of the year we knew Rock Valley was the team to beat if it wasn't us," Vilsoet said. "We've targeted this match to beat Rock Valley."

Harper won in 4 games in Palatine and Rock Valley won in 5 games in Rockford as they shared the N4C title. Rock Valley won an early-season 2-game match.

But the Hawks have come a long way since then with Hoffman Estates grads LaMasse and Didier the only returnees from last year's 38-8 team that finished fifth in the school's third national tourney team since 2002.

"Losing so many players from last year and coming back with me and Karlee made me really nervous," LaMasse said. "But I feel this team is more of a team."

A brutal schedule helped freshmen such as setter Nikki Maize, outside hitters Christy Lima, Aprille Richter and Diane Janik, middle hitter Angie Skonieczny and libero Katie Reed prepare for this weekend. The midseason addition of outside hitter Crissy Wise made a big difference.

"This team has to fight harder than last year," Didier said. "Last year we could pound a lot of teams."

But the Hawks aren't afraid to let people know they believe they're better than Rock Valley.

"There's no doubt in my mind our defense is better," Vilsoet said.

"Player by player I feel we have a better team," LaMasse said. "We need to bring our 'A' game and if we bring our 'A' game, I'm confident."

Zipping along: Two Region IV Division III champions in Jesus Escareno and Heather Cebulko.

A team title for the fifth straight year for the men.

And coach of the year honors for Dan Delahunt in his first season.

Those were Harper's big highlights from Saturday's Region IV cross country meet at Moraine Valley.

But one of the exciting parts in the men's victory over College of DuPage was how fourth and fifth runners Tony Russo and Nick Hill performed behind Escareno, Tim Hoskinson and Matt Damhauser.

"The other three are just good and we know that," Delahunt said. "Tony and Nick will be the difference-makers.

"I never look at times, I look at effort and what kids are capable of. Nick and Tony just ran great and battled."

Escareno won the 8K race in 26:41.6 with Hoskinson second and Damhauser fourth. Cebulko was first in the 5K women's race in 20:44.7 and Tabitha Thomas took third.

The NJCAA Division III national meet is Nov. 10 at Suffolk County College in New York.

Hawks bits: The men's soccer team had its season end last Saturday with a 3-1 loss to Joliet in the Region IV championship game … The men's basketball team and new coach Tony Amarino get started at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the Olivet Nazarene JV … Rusty Becker starts his second season as women's basketball coach at Oakton College at 7 p.m. next Thursday. Becker's assistant is former Elk Grove star and St. Charles North boys head coach Mark Smith.