PALATINE, Ill. – For two years, Kelly Sommers (Arlington Heights, Ill., Buffalo Grove) had to bide her time.  The second-year setter for the Harper College volleyball team had no choice but to look on as fellow setter Alyssa Cazzato (Bartlett, Ill., Bartlett) earned NJCAA All-America honors and was a two-time All-Region award winner.
 
After patiently waiting for her opportunity, Sommers is not only thriving in 2012 as the quarterback of the Hawks' attack, but on defense, as well.  Sommers' solid all-around play is a big reason Harper has won five of their first six matches and why she is Harper College's first Athlete of the Week of the 2012-13 school year.
 
“She's improved her weaknesses and now, over time, she's stronger, smarter and more experienced than her opponents,” said head coach Bob Vilsoet.  “She is a leader on and off the court, just like the setter should be.”
After graduating from Buffalo Grove High School in 2010, Sommers originally planned to go to Concordia University Chicago.  But at the last minute, she changed her mind and decided to come to Harper.  Head coach Bob Vilsoet was more than willing to give Sommers a roster spot, but with it being so close to the season, he decided it was best that she redshirt and retain a season of eligibility.
 
“It was better for me (to redshirt) because my defense was terrible when I first came here,” Sommers said.  “With (Alyssa), I knew I wasn't going to play a lot because she was really good.  I worked really hard on my defense.  That's one of the reasons that I've gotten to this point.” 

With Cazzato still in the picture last season, Vilsoet rotated Sommers into the lineup in certain spots and she produced, averaging 8.8 assists per set, which ranked eighth in the country.  But playing with such an accomplished setter lifted up Sommers' game and helped her improve.
 
“I like the competitiveness,” Sommers said.  “I'm very competitive, so playing behind her drove me to work a lot harder.”
 
Sommers' patience and willingness to learn has paid big dividends for the Hawks this season.  While it's still early, she has upped her assists per set to 8.94 and has been instrumental in helping first-year players like Veronica Dabrowski (Des Plaines, Ill., Rolling Meadows) and Erinn Hellweg (Wauconda, Ill., Wauconda) experience so much success early in their careers.
 
“She is a very smart setter and runs a very balanced offense,” Vilsoet said.  “She probably sets the middle more often than most setters.  Her best trait is that she always gives the hitters something to hit.  She is deceivingly fast and anticipates well.”
 
While Vilsoet disputes Sommers' claim that her defense was terrible when she first arrived at Harper, there is no arguing where she is at now.  Sommers has five double-doubles in six matches and is second on the team in digs per set with 4.06.
 
Equally as impressive in the classroom as on the court, Sommers was a Academic All-America last season.  She received the NJCAA award for Exemplary Academic Achievement.
 
Next year, Sommers will be going to Concordia to continue her playing career.  While she is looking forward to her next stop, Sommers also recognizes how great her current situation is.
 
“I love it,” Sommers said of playing at Harper.  “I wish that I could play a couple more years here.  I am very excited (about Concordia), but I am going to miss my teammates and coach Vilsoet a lot.”