The Demon Den hosts an early season tune-up for a pair of volleyball teams Monday when Hillcrest Academy visits Washington for a scrimmage.

The Demons were 9-24 a year ago, finishing 3-7, in a fourth place tie in the Southeast Conference. The Demons have put in work through the offseason at open gyms, attended team Camp at Central College this summer squaring off with several state tournament teams from 2022, and started official practice earlier this month.

The Ravens were 4-24 last season, 1-9 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference. Hillcrest logged a lot of hours in the offseason. Their preparation included a team camp in July with 85 players in fourth through 12 grade, open gyms, a trip to the Central College team camp in Pella where they posted a 4-4 record, and official practices that began in early August.

These teams met last October in a tournament at Washington where the Demons got the win in straight sets.