Full All-Region Team
PALATINE, Ill. – Three Harper College volleyball sophomores were recognized by NJCAA Region IV for their outstanding play in the 2015 season. Libero Meghan Chartier (Inverness, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and middle hitters Sarah Berggren (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and Daniele Sortino (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Elk Grove) were named First Team All-Region for a Hawks team that won 34 matches and finished the year ranked No. 6 in the national poll.
Chartier played outstanding defense again for the Hawks in 2015 and led the nation in digs with 809, the second straight year she's accomplished the feat. She eclipsed the 20-dig mark in 19 matches and averaged 4.84 digs/set (19th in nation). Chartier was also strong in the service game, as she was 620-of-662 (93.7 percent) with 47 aces.
"Meghan was an amazing two-year player here at Harper College. She was All-Conference and All-Region both years. She was named to five of the eight All-Tournament teams," said Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet. "Last year she was All-Region Tournament team and Harper's Athlete of the Year and also named All-American. This is in addition to Meghan leading the nation in digs both years, and smashing the Harper College single season record for digs and two-year career record for digs. There wasn't much left for Meghan to accomplish. Oh, and she gets good grades, too."
Berggren put down 393 kills (ninth in nation) in 166 sets (2.37 kills/set). The sophomore earned All-Tournament honors at the Harper College Invitational, Harper College Invite, and Lincoln Land Invitational. She reached double figures in kills in 15 matches and was also a standout on the defensive end with a team-best 78 blocks. Berggren also made the most of her service opportunities, going 188-of-200 with 21 aces.
"Sarah Berggren (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) was our most improved player. There was tangible statistical improvement from 160 kills in 2014 to 393 kills in 2015 and from 20.8% hitting efficiency in 2014 to a team-leading 33.7% in 2015," Vilsoet said. "This is what happens when players work hard during the offseason both coaching and playing."
Sortino had a great year for the Hawks as well, as she collected a team-high 395 kills in 156 sets (2.53 kills/set). The sophomore had 10 or more kills in 16 matches. Sortino was also given the prestigious honor of NJCAA Division III National Player of the Week for all games played Aug. 20-30. In that span, Sortino totaled 61 kills in 21 sets (2.9 kills/set) and had a .346 hitting percentage.
"Daniele was on the All-Region team both of her years and also improved from year-to-year with 309 kills in 2014 and a team-leading 395 kills in 2015," Vilsoet said. "Daniele also worked hard to improve in the offseason, practicing and working out daily. Hard work and desire do pay off."
