Hawks Tripped up by No. 1 Madison

The Hawks fell in straight sets to No. 1 Madison Thursday night. (Jim Cummins)

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. – The fifth-ranked Harper College volleyball team fell for a third time this season to No. 1 Madison College, losing in straight sets (14-25, 20-25, 18-25).

The Hawks (24-17, 8-4 N4C) fell behind 16-9 in the first game against the nation's top team and could not mount a comeback. Alex Messner (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) led the Harper defense with six digs while the offense struggled with only eight kills.

Harper came out stronger in the second game, taking leads of 8-5, 12-9 and 16-13. However, the WolfPack responded with a 6-0 run and went on to win the game. Libero Kelly Spychala (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) led the Hawks with 11 digs.

Harper played well in the third set, but it wasn't enough for victory. Setter Lindsey Murphy (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) had seven assists while Spychala added six digs for a team-high 22 digs in the match.

"Madison's offense and their defense were very effective," said Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet. "Their serve receive was very effective, as nobody on Harper served more than 10 times in the match."

Outside hitter Veronica Dabrowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Rolling Meadows) led the Hawks' attack with six kills on 24-for-26 hitting. Murphy handed out 19 assists in a losing effort.

"We have improved greatly this year, and we are ranked No. 5 to prove it," Vilsoet said. "Evidently, Madison has improved too and appropriately is ranked No. 1, still."

The Hawks travel to Rockford this weekend for the Kishwaukee Invitational. They play five matches in two days against high-quality competition. For a full schedule, click here.

Wallor Competes at 2013 Chicago Marathon

Harper assistant cross country coach Eric Wallor (left) competing in the 2013 Chicago Marathon. (Jessica Rifis, Passions Production Company)

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper assistant cross country coach Eric Wallor competed in his first Chicago Marathon in 2008 with very limited training. This year, Wallor ran in his fifth Chicago Marathon and ninth overall, placing 71^st out of 38,873 finishers in a time of 2:28:44.

In that first marathon in 2008, Wallor ran a 2:42 time but had bigger aspirations for his running career.

"I really wanted to devote all of my training to bringing that time down," he said.

A former Harper All-American and standout runner at the University of Illinois, Wallor trained with the current Harper cross country team during the months and weeks leading up to the race and went on long runs of 15-20 miles on the weekend. He also bounced ideas off Harper head cross country coach Jim Macnider, who is an experienced marathoner himself and owns a PR (personal record) of 2:19:44.

Leading up to the race, Wallor wasn't dealing with any injuries and described it as ''the best I've ever felt". He set his race goal as 2:24 (5:30 mile pace), which would have been a PR from his previous best time of 2:26:48.

On race day this past Sunday, Wallor was spot-on through the first half, running consistent 5:30 pace and settling in with a pack of runners who had the same aspirations.

However, he started dealing with some stomach issues but was really hoping it would go away. By mile 14, the pain was too much, and he needed to make a rest stop. The stop cost him about a minute but more importantly lost the pack he was running with.

While Wallor wasn't totally satisfied with the end result of 2:28:44, he isn't giving up his dream of qualifying for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in 2016. The standard to qualify now is 2:18, but Wallor is optimistic he can get there.

"I feel like I'm in better shape than when I was running competitively in college," he said. "I was in really good shape then, but I'm above that level. I was hoping to do better, but it just didn't work out. Going into 2014, I feel really good about dropping some more time."

Wallor offered some parting advice to those who may want to try running longer races.

"Find a plan, be consistent and stay with what you've done. Even the slightest thing can affect you. Do what you've been doing in the long runs up to that point."

English/Writing Tutoring Available for Athletes

Photo courtesy of rivergates.net

PALATINE, Ill. – Student-athletes will now have access to tutoring services in English and Writing in the Wellness and Sports Center (M Building).

To make an appointment, please contact Bill Smith at wsmith@harpercollege.edu, 847-925-6000 x2034 or stop by his office in M235 (attached to the study hall).

Past Meets Present at Alumni Baseball Game

Former and current Harper baseball players came together on Sunday. (Cliff Brown)

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College baseball team welcomed back 22 former Hawks to campus on Sunday afternoon for an alumni baseball game.

The festivities kicked off at 11 AM as former players reunited with old teammates, warmed up, and took batting practice on the baseball field. Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Fredia Martin was on hand to give the alumni t-shirts and Harper College alumni license plates.

Just before noon, Harper College President Dr. Kenneth Ender thanked the alumni for coming out and imparted his wisdom to the current team.

"This may be the best time of your life, but this is not life," Ender said.

Donning a Harper baseball jacket, Ender threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the game that pitted alumni teams captained by Paul Dineen and Bill Smith against each other. Both teams took a unique approach to the batting order, making the lineup oldest to youngest in descending order.

After Smith's squad took an early lead, Dineen's bunch came out swinging, hitting gaps left and right. George Heller, who played for the Hawks in 2009 and 2010, went 4-for-4 in the contest.

During the game, current players manned the grill, grilling up ribs, hot dogs, sausage and brats to complement the soda, chips and dessert.

Dineen's squad emerged with a 7-3 victory over Smith's team. After the game, Harper head coach Cliff Brown gathered the past and present players together at home plate, and former players gave advice and shared their experiences with the new team.

"Harper gave me the chance to further my baseball career and go on to play at a four-year university," said Tim Lazzarotto, who played for the Hawks in 1984 and 1985 and has coached baseball at the high school level for 25 years. "Through baseball, I was able to learn how to achieve something and carry it on to my career as an educator. Hard work and dedication can help you do anything you want in life."

Hawks Summon the Powers of Abe Lincoln, Finish 3-1

The Hawks went 3-1 over the weekend behind strong play and a little luck from Abe Lincoln.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – It is considered good luck to rub the nose of Abraham Lincoln's statue in Springfield. For the Harper College volleyball team this past weekend, they became believers.

After splitting their first two matches on Friday, the team rubbed Lincoln's nose Saturday morning and won their final two matches that day to complete a successful 3-1 weekend at the Lincoln Land Invitational.

Harper vs. Kaskaskia College

The Hawks (23-16) got the weekend started on the right foot with a tightly-contested straight sets victory over Div. I Kaskaskia College (25-22, 25-23, 26-24), who beat Harper in the same invitational last year.

"This was a nice turn of events. We played very well," said Harper head coach Bob Viloset. "This match was a good confidence builder."

The Hawks built a 21-10 lead, but the Blue Angels responded with a 12-3 run to cut the lead to 24-22. Harper captured the next point to win the set. Madison Rodriguez(Palatine, Ill./Palatine) the attack with four kills in the set while Lindsey Murphy (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) contributed 11 assists.

Harper fell behind 9-3 in the second set but clawed back into it. Trailing 23-22, the Hawks won the last three points to go up 2-0 in the match. Veronica Dabrowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Rolling Meadows) led a powerful attack with six kills.

In the third set, Harper fell behind 17-5 and the match looked to be heading to a fourth set, but Rebekah Hischke (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown)'s strong serving (10-for-11, three aces) got the team back into the match. The Hawks still trailed 22-18, but they scored eight of the game's final 10 points to complete an amazing 12-point comeback.

Lindsey Murphy (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) led the Hawks in two categories, recording a double-double with 15 digs and 38 assists. Dabrowski finished the match with a team-high 14 kills to go along with nine digs.

Harper vs. #13 Butler County Community College (Div. II)

In Friday's nightcap match, the Hawks fell to a very strong Butler squad in straight sets (18-25, 12-25, 20-25).

Harper fell into a 17-7 hole in the first game and could not recreate the magic from the prior match against Kaskaskia. Alex Messner (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) led the Hawks with four kills and five digs. The second game was no different, as Butler built an early lead and cruised to victory.

In game three, Harper took a 16-15 lead but could not hold on for the victory.

Murphy led the team with 18 assists while libero Kelly Spychala (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) led the team defensively with 14 digs.

"They were very strong defensively and put their hits in play and relied upon their defense. I was impressed with them," Vilsoet said.

 Harper vs. East Central College

The Hawks caught East Central at the right time, just after they played a hard-fought five-set match against Kaskaskia. Harper won in straight sets (25-9, 25-7, 25-19).

In the first two sets, the Hawks opened up big leads and won easily.

The final set was much closer, with the game tied at 16-16 before Harper won nine of the final 12 points en route to victory. Messner led the Hawks with five kills and six digs in the set.

Messner had a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs while Murphy was a perfect 16-for-16 serving with two aces to go along with 34 assists.

Harper vs. John A. Logan College

After the Hawks dropped a tough match against John A. Logan at the Harper College Invitational on Sept. 20, they enacted revenge on their opponents with a straight sets victory (25-23, 25-23, 25-21).

The Hawks fell into an early 16-5 hole in the first set but fought back to close the gap to 19-17. Harper took the lead at 21-20 and held on to complete an unlikely 11-point comeback.

The Hawks carried the momentum into set two, taking a lead of 21-14 before the Volunteers tied it at 23-23. Harper won the final two points to pick up the win. Rodriguez was a blocking machine with four rejections in the contest.

Harper raced out to an early 10-3 lead in set three, but the opponents closed the gap to 16-15. The Hawks responded to the adversity and finished strong to win the set. Dabrowski led the Hawks with six kills while Messner tallied 10 digs.

Murphy notched a double-double with 11 digs and 32 assists in the match.

All-Tournament Team

Harper outside hitter Alex Messner (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) was named to the Lincoln Land All-Tournament Team. For the weekend, she tallied 34 kills and 50 digs.

Thoughts from Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet

"This was a nice volleyball vacation to Springfield for our team. We played four excellent teams this weekend," he said. "All-in-all, it was very fun volleyball experience for the players."

Up Next

The Hawks return to action Tuesday against N4C foe Milwaukee. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and the match will be played at Alverno College.

Hawks Tie for Fifth at Benedictine Invitational

Harper's Brennan Albuck ran his best race of the season. (Jim Cummins)

Results

WARRENVILLE, Ill. – The Harper men's cross country team tied for fifth out of 17 teams at the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational on Friday. The Hawks scored 176 points to tie with Wilmington College, and they were the top junior college at the meet.

A trio of freshman – Juan Barajas (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg), Zach Stella (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and Brennan Albuck (/Hoffman Estates) – led the charge for Harper on the 8K course at the St. James Farm Forest Preserve. Barajas took 26^th place, finishing in 26:41 while Stella captured 45^th place with a time of 27:13. Albuck was not far behind, finishing in 48^th place with a time of 27:24.

Sophomores Nick Modlin (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) and Jhoan LIno rounded out the scoring with 58^th and 60^thplace finishes. Modlin crossed the finish line in 27:41, and Lino was close behind with a time of 27:44.

Other Harper finishers included Sebastian Ramirez (Lima, Peru/Palatine) in 79^th place, Vince Greco (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) in 96^th place, Andrew Guibord (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) in 110^th place, John Majerus (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) in 111^th place, Jordy Arriaga (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) in 132^nd place, Connor Williams(/Wauconda) in 135^th place, Livan Turyamusiima (/Modern Secondary School) in 148^th place and Daniel Lim (Schaumburg, Ill./Streamwood) in 176^th place.

North Central College won the meet with 39 points, placing five runners in the top 11 positions. Wheaton College took second place with 46 points, and Saint Joseph's College rounded out the top three with 86 points.

Up next for the Hawks is the Bradley Classic on Friday at 3:00 PM.

Harper Women Take 16th at Benedictine Invitational

The Hawks took 16th at the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational. (Jim Cummins)

Results

WARRENVILLE, Ill.  – The Harper women's cross country team had six runners compete at the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational on Friday and took 16^th place with a team score of 442 points.

Stephanie Chaires (Palatine, Ill./Christian Liberty) led the Hawks with a 97^th place finish, completing the 6K race in 27:17. Mary Piltaver (/Conant) finished in 128^th place with a time of 28:47 while Marisa Andreuccetti (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant) was close behind with a 130^th place finish in 28:54.

Newcomer Lori Delfin (/Wheeling) was Harper's third finisher with a 149^th place finish in 31:20. Gabby Beaupre(Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) took 150^th with a time of 31:59 to round out the scoring while Cindia Salgado(Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) took 154^th in a time of 32:43.

The Hawks are back in action Friday at the Bradley Classic in Peoria.