Harper volleyball bounces back
After a crushing defeat at the hands of Joliet Junior College, the Harper College women’s volleyball team had to bounce back quickly last week.
Two days later the Hawks did just that, defeating Triton College (25-9, 25-5, 25-15). This week the Hawks played two games, including Tuesday’s crucial four-set win over seventh-ranked Rock Valley College.
“We started off on the right foot beating Rock Valley,” Harper coach Bob Vilsoet said.
The Hawks needed to defeat the Eagles to keep their hopes alive of earning a share of the North Central Community College Conference title.
“Our goal this week is to arrive in the top 10,” Vilsoet said.
Tuesday will be a big day for the Hawks. If Rock Valley defeats Joliet and the Hawks win their remaining three games against N4C opponents they would be part of a four-way tie for the title.
Vilsoet said of the Joliet-Rock Valley game, “There’s nothing we can do about it. Whatever the outcome is, it’s going to be.”
The Hawks end the week by playing in the Harper College Invite. The marquee game in pool play for Harper will be at noon Saturday against NJCAA Division II foe Carl Sandburg (15-4).
“This is not going to be an easy match,” Vilsoet said.
The Hawks and Rock Valley may meet in the tournament’s championship game.
Middle hitter Clara Moravec (Jacobs) will miss six to eight weeks with a severe sprain in her right ankle. Stephanie Igielski will see most of the time at the middle hitting position.
Women’s soccer: Harper is 2-3 in its last five games and all three losses have come outside the N4C.
The last time the Hawks dropped a conference game was on Sept. 14 when they suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to Joliet Junior College. This could be termed redemption week as they play two games against teams that defeated them early in the year.
Tuesday the Hawks returned the favor by defeating the Wolves 4-0 at Joliet. On Friday, the Hawks traveled to College of DuPage, which won the first meeting 3-1.
The Hawks will then have nine days to prepare for Oakton Community College to end the regular season.
Sophomore defender Tiffany Jost (Schaumburg) has been granted a medical redshirt. Jost suffered a torn ACL in her right knee.
Men’s soccer: Similar to the women’s team, the Harper (4-7, 4-4) men’s soccer team is 2-3 in its last five games. The Hawks ended a recent four-game homestand 2-2 and end the regular season Wednesday when they travel to Madison.
Kyle O’Meara’s (Palatine) first-half penalty shot was the best scoring chance for the Hawks as they lost to Joliet 4-0.
Women’s cross country: The Harper College cross country team wrapped up what could be called its toughest stretch this season.
“We are trying to get healthy and get ready for regionals and nationals. The kids our starting to come around,” first-year coach Jim Macnider said.
The Hawks run at the Benedictine Invitational and will be traveling to an invite at NCAA Division III power and top-ranked North Central College.
“We are looking good,” Macnider said.
Hooping it up: The Harper College men’s and women’s basketball programs have announced their schedules for the 2011-2012 season.
The women’s team plays its first two games on the road against Skyway Conference members with a Nov. 3 opener at Oakton. The men play four of its first six games at home, including the Nov. 2 opener with South Suburban.