The Harper College volleyball team once again had a successful year in the fall of 2014 with a 32-14 record and 7-3 mark in conference play. The Hawks also ended the year ranked No. 4 in the national poll.
Turning the page to 2015, head coach Bob Vilsoet‘s team will return six players from last year’s 32-win team as well as a strong crop of incoming freshman. Harper is ranked No. 7 in the nation coming into the season and opens its season on Saturday and Sunday at the 2015 Battle For The Dells Junior College Tournament in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Schedule
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After the opening weekend tournament, the Hawks will play in several tournaments as well as quad and tri matches with loaded fields, including:
Harper College Tri-Match (Aug. 28)
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Illinois Valley Tri-Match (Sept. 5)
Rochester Community and Technical College Volleyball Invitational (Sept. 11-12)
Harper College Invitational (Sept. 18-19, 11 Teams)
Harper College Tri-Match (Sept. 25)
Harper College Tri-Match (Sept. 26)
Harper College Invite (Oct. 3, 8 Teams)
Lincoln Land Invitational (Oct. 9-10)
South Suburban Quad (Oct. 17)
Kankakee Tri-Match (Oct. 24)
On Tuesday and Thursday nights, Harper will be in North Central Community College Conference (N4C) play against the likes of Madison College, Rock Valley College, Joliet Junior College, College of DuPage, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Triton College. Madison is once again the preseason No. 1 in the NJCAA rankings after winning their second straight national title in 2014.
“As usual, we play a very competitive schedule. Last year, we played the most matches and sets of any team in our division,” Vilsoet said. “Plus, we were first in the total number of attacks, first in the total number of digs, second in the nation in total number of assists, and second in total number of kills. This is a good volleyball environment here at Harper College to go along with a very good school!”
Setter
Setter is a position of significant strength for Harper College this year. Returning setter Jillian Hoffman (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey), who led the nation in sets played last year, and newcomer Katelyn Sommers (/Buffalo Grove), younger sister of Harper alum Kelly Sommers, will play the position.
Hoffman played an NJCAA high 166 sets (of 169) for the Hawks last year. She ended the season with 641 assists (3.86 assists/set) and 358 digs (2.16 digs/set) plus 27 aces.
Sommers went to the USAV Junior Olympics Nationals Tournament in New Orleans this past year, leading her team to a second place finish in the 18’s division of the Windy City Power League. She was also a 2015 IHSA State Champion in badminton doubles.
“Katelyn is a highly motivated and coordinated player that clearly has a champion-like mentality. She’s been playing volleyball since grade school and setting mostly on Top-Flight Volleyball teams plus this past year at Sky High VBC,” Vilsoet said. “She is strong defensively and has a hard serve. She will be a very effective player for us this year.”
Middle Hitter
Middle hitter will be another position of significant strength this year for Harper College. Harper returns both sophomore middle hitters Daniele Sortino (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Elk Grove) and Sarah Berggren (Barrington, Ill./Barrington). Both middles are adept at hitting from the left side or the right side as well, making this group very versatile, experienced, and effective.
Sortino was named All-Conference and All-Region as a freshman in 2014. She played in 146 of 169 sets and had 309 kills and only 86 errors on 795 attempts. She also had 92 blocks, 36 aces, and 143 digs.
Last year with the Hawks, Berggren had 160 kills and just 62 hitting errors on 472 attempts plus 53 blocks. In the offseason, she was an assistant coach at Sky High and has been working hard to continue to improve over the year.
“She is a very effective, versatile, and clutch player. The kind of player you like to set or will get a block when the game is on the line,” Vilsoet said.
Outside Hitter
Outside hitter is a bit of a question mark for Harper this year. Both starting outside hitters from last year will not be on the court for the Hawks in 2015. Both Shannon Igielski (Streamwood, Ill/St. Edward) and Adriana Loiacono (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) played right side most of the time last year. And Jada Sharp (/Schaumburg Christian) is a newcomer with significant ability.
In 2014, Igielski had 118 kills, mostly from the right side. She will be moving to the left side this year.
“Years ago, when her older sister Stephanie played for Harper College, Stephanie had similar statistics her first year,” Vilsoet said. “Then, in year two, Stephanie led Harper College in hitting percentage. Shannon has similar skills, and we expect the same type of improvement.”
Loiacono played 159 of 169 last year at right side, middle hitter, and outside hitter. She had 248 kills and only 78 hitting errors on 825 attempts. She also had 34 blocks, 144 digs, and 14 aces.
“Adriana is a very consistent and versatile player. She set a 5-1 her senior year in high school, played middle for her Sky High JO club team that earned a trip to nationals two years ago, and was right side most of last year at Harper. So, naturally, we will play her at left-side this year.” Vilsoet said.
Sharp was named All-Conference in high school. She was also on the Team Illinois Volleyball (TIV) 18-Navy team that earned a trip to the USAV JO Nationals in New Orleans recently. She played middle on her club team but will be hitting outside for the Hawks this year.
“Jada had other choices, and we are glad she chose Harper College in the fall,” Vilsoet said. “She is also a very mobile and athletic player that will benefit greatly from good setting.”
Newcomer Bryanna Swopes will also play outside hitter this year. She played her varsity volleyball at Waukegan High School.
Back Row
Back Row is a very strong position for Harper College this year, quite likely the best ever. The position is led by sophomore Meghan Chartier (Inverness, Ill./Buffalo Grove). Last year, Chartier dug her way to a record 850 digs in one season. She was named All-Conference, All-Region, All-Region Tournament Team and named to every All-Tournament Team. Also, she was named the NJCAA Division III National Player of the Week once and also named Harper College’s Female Athlete of the Year.
“I’m not sure what is left for Meghan to accomplish,” Vilsoet said. “She is already very close to breaking the Harper College career record for digs. Meghan is a fantastic defender and serve receive passer.”
Hannah Moore (/Schaumburg) will also join Chartier in the back row. Behind some terrific defensive effort from Moore, the Schaumburg High School volleyball team won its sectional. She was also named All-Area.
“Hannah is an outstanding defensive player with a strong serve and a terrific work effort. She never lets the ball hit the ground on her watch,” Vilsoet said.
Kayla Mayer will also play back row this year. While at the JO Volleyball Nationals this year in New Orleans, she played outstanding defense. She also sets very well for a libero and has a very strong jump- serve.
“Kayla is a very strong, versatile, and complete, back row player,” Vilsoet said. “Reuniting her defense with Daniele’s blocking, and Katelyn’s setting will be a formidable combination on the court.”
Coaching Staff
Head coach Bob Vilsoet, who has been the head coach for 13 year so far, has 372 wins. The Hawks have won 30 or more games for the last four seasons. Vilsoet coaches at Sky High VBC in Palatine. His regional team made new history again by earning Sky High’s first-ever regional bid to the Girls Junior Olympic National Championship – National Division, played in New Orleans.
Assistant coach Jeanie Behrens is back. Behrens coaches for the Team Illinois Volleyball (TIV) club. In addition, she is a certified USAV and IHSA volleyball referee.
“Jeanie’s club team also sent a team to Nationals in New Orleans this year in the American Division. With all that she does, I’m very blessed that Jeanie continues to be the assistant coach here at Harper College,” Vilsoet said. “She is one of the main reasons for the good volleyball environment we have here.”
New volunteer assistant coach Adam Miller will join the staff in 2015. Miller currently coaches for the Kane County Juniors Volleyball Club.
“Kane County is an excellent volleyball club. I’m looking forward to including Adam’s experience on this year’s volleyball team.”
