Hawks serve up statement victory

Christy Lima said Harper College had a simple motivation Thursday night when Rock Valley College visited for a showdown of nationally ranked NJCAA Division III women's volleyball teams.

"Revenge," the freshman outside hitter from Rolling Meadows said. "We wanted revenge."

And the eighth-ranked Hawks (15-15, 4-0) got it with a convincing 30-27, 30-17, 28-30-16 N4C victory over No. 4 Rock Valley (19-6-2, 3-1).

"This is the team we needed to beat to get to nationals," said Harper sophomore middle hitter and Hoffman Estates grad Lisa LaMasse. "We know it's a team that now we can beat to get to nationals."

Harper did it in record-setting fashion as freshman setter Nikki Maize's 58 assists broke the match record of 54 by Jeanie Janz in 2002.

"No wonder Elk Grove got to the supersectional last year," said Harper coach Bob Vilsoet of Maize. "She's just fabulous."

The big beneficiary was Lima, whose 24 kills tied the Harper match record by Amanda Crane in 2002. LaMasse had 17 kills and 8 blocks, Aprille Richter (Hoffman) had 10 kills and Angie Skonieczny had 5 kills and 9 blocks.

But there were two key differences for the Hawks from a two-game loss to Rock Valley in a tourney three weeks ago.

Diane Janik (Conant) is back from an injury and had 18 digs to help the Hawks' serve receive get them into their attack. And freshman Crissy Wise (Maine East), who just joined the team two weeks ago, had 8 kills.

"She set the tone for the rest of the night," Vilsoet said of Wise's 2 kills and two others put in play off the first 4 sets of the match.

Harper also had solid serving from Wise (17-for-18), Lima (21-for-21, Richter (15-for-19, 4 aces), Karlee Didier (19-for-21), Maize (20-for-20).

"Our team was together," LaMasse said. "Now we feel we're all together and strong."

Playing 22 matches against Division II scholarship schools has also bolstered the Hawks, who are after their third straight national tourney trip and fourth since 2002.

And LaMasse finished off their statement match with a pair of kills off Maize assists.

"We came pumped up and ready to play," Lima said.

"I was really nervous because they had beaten us," LaMasse said. "We wanted it and that's what did it."

Football still upbeat: A tough 28-23 loss last week at Iowa Central hasn't diminished the spirit of the Harper College football team.

"We had a good week of practice -- probably our best one yet," said Harper coach Dragan Teonic. "Mentally we're where we need to be right now.

"We just have got to get the guys to believe."

Teonic hopes the Hawks (2-3, 1-3) do at 1 p.m. Saturday when they host North Dakota State College of Science (1-3) in a Midwest Football Conference game.

He said the revamped defense showed encouraging signs but three misalignments led to scores. Freshman quarterback Matt Brandt led the final scoring drive and figures to get some snaps again this week with classmate Garrett Barnas.

North Dakota State has also had tough losses -- 19-14 last week to Grand Rapids, 13-6 to Joliet and 28-24 to Ellsworth (Iowa). Running back Ahmad Palmer (284 yards, 2 TDs) has missed the last two games with a foot injury, but quarterback Derek Stripling has thrown for 416 yards and 3 TDs.

For the Hawks, it's a chance to enhance their bowl game hopes.

"The nice thing about our playoff system is you're never out of it," Teonic said. "To get to where we want to be, I think we're in a good position. I'm proud of the way the kids are playing."

Soccer breakout: After four 1-goal defeats, the Harper men's soccer team (1-4-1) took no chances with its first win Wednesday. Victor Talavera, Todor Stefanov and Wally Madsen scored in a 3-0 N4C win over Joliet.

The women's soccer team improved to 3-3 with a 3-1 win Monday over Moraine Valley as Jenna Schroeder scored twice and Mindy Veracka had the other goal.