Fifth-ranked Rock Valley sweeps Harper

Having won 11 of its last 12 games coming into Tuesday night, the Harper College women's volleyball team welcomed Rock Valley College to the Sports and Wellness Center in Palatine on Tuesday night for a conference matchup.

The Golden Eagles (24-4) are ranked No. 5 in the latest NJCAA Divsion III poll, and they lived up to their billing, coming away with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-10 victory.

Harper coach Bob Vilsoet played mostly freshman-laden lineups in the first two sets. In the third set, sophomore Amy Fischer (Lake Park) was inserted into the lineup to see if she could give the Hawks a spark.

"I liked the way she passed the ball," Vilsoet said of Fischer.

Harper sophomore outside hitter Joanna Strzelec (Rolling Meadows) sat out the contest due to a coach's decision.

The Hawks and Golden Eagles played a nip-and-tuck first set. Setter Alyssa Cazzato (Bartlett) was all over the court, making diving play after diving play to keep the Hawks within striking distance. With the Golden Eagles up 20-19, first-year coach Abby Jenkins called her team's first timeout. The Golden Eagles proceeded to go on a 5-1 run after the timeout to take the first set.

The second set was much like the first, though the troubles came a little sooner for the Hawks. This time it was Vilsoet, who had to calm his team down.

"It's mental," Vilsoet said of his team's mistakes.

After that timeout, Harper went on a 4-0 run before the Golden Eagles were able to end it, still leading 14-13. That was as close as the Hawks got, and Rock Valley went on to finish the match with a decisive victory in the third set.