Harper reclaims Region IV title, enters NJCAA Nationals as #7 seed
ROCKFORD, ILL. - Harper College dominated the competition and earned some revenge from 2018 as they re-claimed their spot atop the region with 3-0 defeat of Rock Valley College to win the 2019 Region IV Division III Women's Volleyball Championship. The 25-12, 25-20, 25-14 victory over the #3-seeded Golden Eagles on their home floor reverses the result from a year prior when RVC won in three over Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. The top-seeded Hawks have now won three of the last four Region IV titles.
Freshman middle hitter Rugile Jaciunas led the way with 11 kills and a .375 attack percentage, while fellow first year outside hitter Amelia Reiter posted a double-double with ten kills and ten digs. Freshman middle hitter Rachel Kandefer added nine kills, and was second with 2.5 blocks behind 3.5 from Jaciunas. Freshman setter Taylor Pfaller racked up 33 assists and three aces in the winning effort. The Hawks also earned a three-set win over Joliet Junior College in the semifinals en route to the title, which earned Bob Vilsoet the Region IV Coach of the Year award.
Rock Valley College was led by Rachel Rivers with eight kils and 15 digs as they finish their season 20-22.
Harper College is 24-20 and receiving votes in the final NJCAA Division III Poll. The Hawks have earned the #7-seed for the 2019 NJCAA Division III Volleyball Championship in Rochester, Minnesota, from November 14-16. The 2016 national champion and 2017 national runners-up will begin tournament play against #10-seeded Queensborough Community College (NY), who enters with a 24-5 mark overall. Their opening round match will be Thursday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m., with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals to face #2-seed and host Rochester Community College (30-2).
2019 Region IV Division III All-Tournament Team
Jules Carusiello - Harper College
Taylor Pfaller - Harper College
Rachel Kandefer - Harper College
Kara Cisewski - Rock Valley College
Faith Reynolds - Rock Valley College
Calla Borchert - Madison College
Emma Sweeney - Joliet Junior College
Coach of the Year
Bob Vilsoet - Harper College