Harper women handle Triton

Playing its second game in as many days, the third-seeded Harper College women's volleyball team opened regional play on Tuesday night when it hosted Triton College (3-16).

It took the Hawks but 57 minutes to dispatch the Trojans 25-9, 25-9, 25-8.

The freshman trio of outside hitters Samatha Rosinski (Rolling Meadows) and Lauren LaMasse (Hoffman Estates) and setter Alyssa Cazzato (Bartlett) led the way for Harper.

Rosinski helped the Hawks' attack defensively, keeping alive rallies that led to Hawks points.

“All I could do was get the ball to Cazzato,” Rosinski said.

After a slugish start that saw the Trojans rattle off the first 4 points of the set, the Hawks came back to things up and then pull away.

“I was happy with how we played,” said Harper coach Bob Vilsoet.

With her confidence rising from the middle of the second and into the third set, LaMasse along with Liz Dottson helped carry the Hawks' offense. LaMasse finished the game with 15 kills.

“She was on the point today,” Rosinski said of LaMasse's offensive effort.

“I was able to hit it over it (the short Triton block) real easy,” LaMasse said.

Harper advances to meet fifth-ranked Madison at noon Saturday. If the Hawks win, they'd go on to face the winner of No. 3 Rock Valley vs. Madison later that afternoon.

The regional winner will advance to nationals. The Hawks have a history of making it to nationals, most recently in the 2008-2009 season.

“We have to step up our game” LaMasse said of playing Saturday.