With only three practices under its belt, the Harper volleyball team faced a tough test in an exhibition match against a star-studded Harper alumni team last week. The current team dropped all six games to the alumni (17-25, 21-25, 23-25, 22-25, 22-25, 22-25), but head coach Bob Vilsoet still walked away very encouraged by his 2013 team's performance.
"There's no shame in losing close games to a team of Harper ex-players, including two All-Americans, two All-Region Players, eight All-Conference players, one varsity head coach, and an Academic All-American volleyball player," Vilsoet said. "This was the best alumni team we've ever had play the current team."
The Hawks come into the 2013 campaign ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll. Last season, the Hawks were among teams receiving votes in the preseason but finished the season with a 36-15 record and were ranked No. 5 in the nation. Vilsoet acknowledged his team has things to work on, but he saw "flashes of brilliance" and good passing from a group still getting acclimated to playing with each other.
"I guess I'm glad the alumni team won," he said. "It stands to reason that players I coached for two years and in some cases more should be better than the current team that I've only coached for three practices so far."
