Harper's digging new gym floor
The Harper College women's volleyball team clearly digs its new gym floor.
The Hawks opened N4C play Tuesday and improved to 4-2 overall with a 25-14, 25-23, 25-18 win over Joliet.
Harper was ranked fourth in the NJCAA Division III preseason poll and hopes to make its fourth national tournament appearance since 2002 under coach Bob Vilsoet.
For the first time, Vilsoet has a returning NJCAA All-American in sophomore outside hitter Christy Lima (Rolling Meadows). Lima had 435 kills last season.
Also back at outside hitter is Aprille Richter (Hoffman Estates), who had 262 kills, 442 digs and a team-high 70 aces a year ago. Setter Nikki Maize (Elk Grove, 1,106 assists, 559 digs) and defensive specialist/libero Diane Janik (Conant) are also back from last year's N4C co-champions who finished eighth in the final NJCAA Division III poll.
Newcomers expected to help Vilsoet and the Hawks are outside hitters Anie Fitzpatrick (Elk Grove), Katie Spychala (Elk Grove), Torrie Raio (Hoffman), middle hitters Laura Niemeyer (Glenbrook South), Kamila Lakoma (Grayslake Central) and Allyssa Collins (Prospect), setter Amy Tranchita (Elk Grove) and liberos Kate Paulson (Jacobs) and Megan Maize (Elk Grove).
Fitzpatrick and Richter had 12 and 8 kills respectively against Joliet. Nikki Maize had 34 assists and Paulson had 20 digs.
Harper also beat South Suburban in three sets and went 2-2 to start the season at the tough College of DuPage tournament.
Harper will get its first look at 7 p.m. Friday at fifth-ranked Rock Valley at the Wisconsin-Waukesha tournament. They split N4C matches last year but Rock Valley won the regional final match to advance to the national tournament.
Off and running: Paul Paynter's debut as the Harper men's and women's cross country coach was a success.
The men won the five-team Harper invite as Chris Hoffman (Hoffman Estates) finished first in a school-record 16:07. Josh Perez (Hoffman) took second and Matt Jacobsen (Fremd) and Dan Hernandez (Hoffman) were fifth and sixth respectively.
Irene Villadares (Buffalo Grove) won the women's race in a course-record 13:34. Jessica Sanders (Dundee-Crown) was 11th as the women finished in fourth place.
The cross country teams will return to action this weekend at the Waubonsee Invitational in Sugar Grove.
Kicking off: The women's soccer team started its season with 9-1 loss to Heartland CC on Tuesday and played Joliet on Wednesday - The men's soccer team opened Wednesday at Joliet.