The Keota Eagles are hosting their 2017 season kickoff tournament this afternoon and several area teams are involved.

The Eagles are coming off of a season that saw them go 2-16. The Eagles two wins a year ago both came over English Valleys. While the Eagles lost their kill and digs leader Erin Chalupa to graduation they do return Addison Swanson who was second on the team last year with 41 kills and Addison Sprouse who was second with 151 digs. The Eagles also return their assist leader Jillian Schulte, who finished with 120 last year.

 

Also attending tonight’s event are the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks. Mid-Prairie is the defending champion of the Keota tournament where they knocked off Keota, Highland and Lone Tree a year ago to claim the title. The Golden Hawks had a 12-20 season a year ago. The Golden Hawks return important pieces Maya Hall, who finished last year with 72 kills, Caitlyn Riggan who ended with 26 assists and Anna Vilovchik who capped 2016 with 87 digs.

The Highland Huskies will also be in Keota tonight. Highland finished 2016 with a 22-12 overall record. The Huskies return their top three offensive weapons including Aly Stokes who led the team with 170 kills, Bailey Harmston who was second with 157 and Sydney Black who was third with 96. Team assist leader at 209, Murphy Beinhart also returns. Defensively the Huskies will have to replace Kelsey Hora who led the team with 335 digs, Black was second last year with 226.

Lone Tree is also making the trip to Keota tonight. The Lady Lions finished last year with a 13-14 overall record. The Lions will try to replace their Elena Sieverding and Liz Dodson on the offensive end who ended last year with more than 450 combined kills. Riley Warson is the leading returner with 97 kills from last year. Defensively Sieverding and Dodson were also a big part of the effort, going for more than 600 combined digs last season. Zoie Simsonsen will look to step in with her 145 digs from last season. Maddie Forbes has departed through graduation after a season of 420 assists, Nico Smith is the leading returner with 27.

Action begins at 4:30 and continues into the evening at Keota High School.