PALATINE, Ill. – The seventh-ranked Harper volleyball team earned a crucial win over the top team in the nation last night, defeating No. 1 Madison College in four sets (25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19).

The victory was the Hawks' seventh straight and moved them to 25-7 overall and 7-2 in N4C play, while the loss dropped the WolfPack to 20-3 overall and 7-1 in the N4C.

"We played very well tonight, and I am very proud of the effort and execution that went into winning this match," said Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet.

Despite falling into an early 10-4 hole in the first set, the Hawks eventually tied it at 12-12 and then took a 16-13 lead. Leading 20-19, Harper closed strong to secure the win. Lauren Sokolowski (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) played an incredible first set, totaling nine kills and six digs. Alyssia Dugo (Algonquin, Ill. /Jacobs) put down three kills to go along with five digs and 7-of-7 serving with an ace. Libero Meghan Chartier (Inverness, Ill./Buffalo Grove) had eight digs, and Lindsey Murphy (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) dished out nine assists.

The two teams were tied at 12 apiece in the second set before the Hawks once again played well down the stretch on the way to victory. Sokolowski smashed five more kills, and middle hitter Kim Butler (Palatine, Ill/Palatine) added three solo blocks. Chartier once again played solid defense with eight digs.

With an opportunity to win the match in the third set, Harper and Madison played another tightly-contested set. Tied at 18-18, the WolfPack closed on a 7-3 run to win the game.

The Hawks started out well in the fourth set with a 13-8 lead before the WolfPack stormed back to tie it at 14-14. Harper scored the next five points to take command. With the Hawks leading 20-16, the two teams fought very hard in an extended rally before Sokolowski put down a kill from the back row. Harper held on for a 25-19 win and their first win over Madison in 2014.

Sokolowski racked up a match-high 20 kills to go along with 15 digs. Murphy also put together a double-double with 10 digs and 29 assists. Alyssia Dugo (Algonquin, Ill. /Jacobs) totaled eight kills, 10 digs, and 20-of-21 serving with five aces. Butler and Daniele Sortino (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Elk Grove) each had six kills, and Chartier tallied a team-high 23 digs.

Harper is back in action this weekend at the Lincoln Land Invitational. The Hawks play Lincoln Trail College (4 PM) and Allen County Community College (6 PM) on Friday and John A. Logan College (9 AM) and Kankakee Community College (11 AM) on Saturday.