After a much improved 2014 regular season, the Mid Prairie Golden Hawk’s volleyball team is ready to make a postseason run.The 13-16 Golden Hawks welcome the Albia Pirates to Tim Grady Gymnasium this evening for the first round of the Class 3A Region 8 tournament.

This season has been a turning point for the Mid-Prairie volleyball program. The Golden Hawks have seven more wins then they did last year, and broke a their long conference match losing streak when they defeated the Tipton Tigers on September 25th. Head coach Cindy Miller says the squad has brought back the Mid-Prairie pride back this season.

“I believe our team use to walk into gyms and we were already beaten before we walked into the gym.” Miller said, “Now teams know we are there to play and they are taking us seriously.”

The Golden Hawks enter postseason play off two three set match losses to Durrant-Bennett and Cascade during the River Valley Conference tournament on October 14th. Senior Taylor Kurtz leads the Mid-Prairie offense with 181 kills, while sophomore Clarice Murphy leads the Golden Hawks with 237 assists. Defensively, senior Ashley Miller leads the team with 266 digs, while Kurtz leads Mid-Prairie with 39 blocks.

Albia comes into the postseason off a straight set tournament loss to Knoxville (15-21, 9-21) back on October 18th. Senior Lexi Van Polen leads the Pirates with 81 kills, while senior Marissa Hugen leads Albia with 154 assists. Defensively, junior Brenna Stephens and Hannah Romanco tie for the team lead with 134 digs, while Van Polen has a team leading 29 blocks. ]

The regional match between Mid Prairie and Albia will serve at 7 p.m. at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman.