A Washington County rivalry will take place in Washington tonight when the Demon volleyball team opens the year playing hosts to Mid-Prairie. 

The Demons lost a senior class of nine from a squad that went 11-23 last season and finished fifth in the Southeast Conference. Senior Olivia Marek is the top offensive threat returning with 61 kills and she also led the team with 39 blocks in 2019. Sophia Kleese returns after 37 digs and Taylor Brinning had a 97% serve efficiency. 

Mid-Prairie got the new campaign started on the right foot sweeping a pair of matches against Tri-County and English Valleys at the Keota tournament on Monday. Landry Pacha had 24 assists in the four sets and Myah Lugar recorded nine kills. The black and gold went 6-22 a year ago and lost four seniors to graduation. 

The Golden Hawks have had the Demons’ number the last several years winning every best of five match since 2012. 

The area match gets underway at 7:30 p.m. this evening in Washington.