The day has arrived, official volleyball competition on the hard court has returned to southeast Iowa. Several area teams will begin their season at Keota High School this evening. From the area competing are Hillcrest Academy, Highland, Lone Tree and the home Eagles.
The Ravens were 4-24 a year ago, 1-9 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference. On offense, Hillcrest finished with 468 kills, 377 assists and a kill efficiency rate of .102. Defensively, the Ravens piled up 819 digs and 42 blocks. Hillcrest had an 83% efficiency rate from the service line with 161 aces. Leading individual retuners include three members of last year’s All-Superconference team. Sophomore Malia Yoder was named a second team all-conference utility player. Yoder piled up 254 digs, best on the team and seventh in the conference, a team best 152 kills, eighth highest in the league, a .247 kill efficiency, fourth in conference. Sophomore Kylee Statler and freshman Claire Withrow were honorable mention All-Conference picks. Statler was the team leader with 45 aces and seventh in conference and 20 blocks, 10th in conference. Withrow had 268 assists, fifth in conference and best on the team. The Ravens were 1-2 at this event last year.
Highland was 13-15 last season, 6-3 in the Superconference. The Huskies had 548 team kills with 470 assists and a .068 kill efficiency. The Highland defense racked up 1,073 digs and 60 blocks while compiling a 92% serve efficiency mark and 179 aces from the back line. Highland had four All-Superconference selections last year, three of which are returning. Sarah Burton was a first-teamer who led the Dogs with 258 digs and 203 kills as a junior. Sophomores Adeline Krotz and Lilly Barre were both honorable mention in 2022. Krotz was the team leader with 23 blocks, she also had 156 digs, 101 kills and 25 aces. Barre added 146 digs. Highland will have to replace second teamer MyLei Smith who had a senior season with a team best 264 assists and 48 aces. The Huskies were 1-2 at this event last year.
Lone Tree had a 5-20 season, going 3-5 in the Superconference. On offense the Lady Lions had 317 kills and 271 assists with a .029 kill efficiency. On defense, Lone Tree had 771 digs and 56 blocks. From the service line, the Lions had an 86% efficiency rate with 133 aces. A trio of Lady Lions were named All-Superconference a season ago. Lone Tree will have to replace senior second teamer Riley Krueger who was the team leader with 180 digs, 138 kills and 33 aces and honorable mention pick Ella Buser with a team leading 206 assists. Sophomore Cate Sexton does return after earining honorable mention league honors with a team best 18 blocks. Lone Tree was winless at Keota last season.
The home Eagles were 4-20 last year, 1-7 in the South Iowa Cedar League. As a team they finished with 274 kills and 197 assists on offense, 1,022 digs and 47 blocks on defense with an 86% serve effiency rate and 94 aces. The Eagles had two honorable mention South Iowa Cedar League performers last season. Senior Nicole Clarahan graduated after a team leading 225 digs and 57 kills. Junior Cassandra Swantz is back after a team best 108 assists. Emily Sheetz is back after a team best 20 blocks, same with Kimberly Clarahan after 17 aces.
Joining those schools in Keota are English Valleys and Tri-County. Action starts at 4:30 and continues into the evening at Keota High School.