The No. 8 in Class 3A Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team came up short Thursday night in Wellman, dropping a key River Valley Conference contest to visiting No. 13 in Class 2A Iowa City Regina in four sets. The Regals took the match, 22-25, 30-28, 29-27 and 25-17. Following the match, Mid-Prairie head coach Sherry Evans talked with KCII Sports about what she thought determined the outcome. She said, “We let way too many easy balls drop tonight that normally we would pick up. We need to stay more disciplined defensively. Regina did a really good job of that and they outworked us. Our lack of communication tonight was a little disappointing. We have to do our jobs recognizing where their hitters are and adjust to that. We didn’t shut them down like we wanted to.”

Unofficially, individual leaders for the Hawks included Dakota Mitchell with 16 digs. Jovi Evans had 15 assists, 13 kills and three aces. Avery Helmuth added 15 assists of her own. Harper Pacha had 15 kills. Callie Huber had 14 kills and four blocks. Lanee Duwa finished with 12 digs and Laurin Fay four blocks. The loss costs the Hawks the outright River Valley Championship, they now share the title with the Regals, West Liberty and Wilton in a four-way tie. It’s the first conference championship of any kind for the Hawks since an Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference crown in 2002. Mid-Prairie will next be in action Saturday at the Clear Creek Amana Tournament.