Photo Courtesy of MP Sports Social Media (Nicole Miller)

Tonight marks a key early season match in the River Valley Conference race as the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team visits the Wilton Beavers. The Hawks come in red hot at 12-3 overall on the year, 1-1 in the RVC, winners of five of their last six matches, three of those victories over ranked squads. In the last week the Golden Hawks have beaten No. 3 in 5A Ankeny, No. 10 in 2A Iowa City Regina, No. 11 in 3A West Liberty, Iowa City West and Cedar Rapids Prairie. This season, the Hawks have accumulated 651 digs, seventh most in 3A, 460 kills, fourth most in 3A, 447 assists, third most in 3A, 109 aces, fourth in 3A, an 85% serve efficiency and 74 blocks. Individual leaders include 245 assists for Jovi Evans, 209 digs for Dakota Mitchell, fourth in 3A, 128 kills each for Evans and Harper Pacha, 31 blocks for Callie Huber and 23 aces for Pacha, seventh in 3A.

Wilton is 14-3 on the season, 2-0 in the River Valley. The Beavers are in the middle of a nine match winning streak, their latest victim was North Cedar in a four set win on Tuesday. Wilton is ranked No. 15 in Class 2A in the latest poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. This year the Beavers have put up 740 digs, third in 2A, 451 kills, eighth in 2A, 404 assists, ninth in 2A, 89 aces, 74 blocks and a 93% serve efficiency, fourth in 2A. Individual leaders include 380 assists for Leah Caffery, seventh in 2A, 184 digs for Annie Holladay, sixth in 2A, 175 kills from Kinsey Drake, seventh in 2A, 23 blocks for Samantha Daufeldt and 19 aces from Calli Langley.

Prior to last season’s Golden Hawk sweep, the Beavers had won seven in a row against the Hawks, dating back to 2015. Action starts tonight at 7:15p.m. at Wilton High School.