The high school volleyball playoffs begin tonight across the state of Iowa, and local teams are looking to punch their ticket out of the first round of region tournaments with wins tonight.

That includes in Class 1A Region 7, where the Keota Eagles are hosting the Lone Tree Lions. Keota is 9-13 and leans on the all-around talents of Cassandra Swatnz. The Eagles’ lone senior has 51 kills, 124 assists, 41 serving aces and 197 digs. Lone Tree is 3-20 and has been led by middle blocker Cate Sexton. The Lion junior has team highs of 79 kills and 30 blocked shots.

WACO will host a first-round match in 1A Region 7 against Iowa Valley. Senior middle blocker Emma Wagler has 165 kills and 33 blocks to lead the Warriors, who are 17-12, while senior setter Meredith Roth has put up 452 assists, 37 aces and 161 digs.

Highland will be on the road in 1A Region 7 tonight to try and take down this year’s Southeast Iowa Super Conference North champions in Wapello. The Huskies are 13-15 and powered by senior Sarah Burton, who leads the team with 137 kills and 240 digs.

Sigourney will be hosting a first-round match in Class 1A Region 5 against a South Iowa Cedar League rival in Montezuma. Senior Amiya Smallwood and junior Josephine Moore have combined for 270 kills and 439 digs to lead the Savages to a mark of 15-8.

Winfield-Mount Union is also at home tonight against Danville in 1A Region 8. Behind senior Audrie Gipple’s 197 kills and senior Aurey Meeker’s 266 assists and 34 aces, the Wolves were the runners-up in the Super Conference North and are 17-13 overall.

Columbus rounds out the first round action in the listening area by welcoming Alburnett to town in Class 2A Region 7. Junior Lily Coil does it all, leading the Wildcats with 165 kills, 27 aces, 261 digs and 15 blocks to help her squad win four of their last six matches and improve to 8-17. All volleyball playoff games begin this evening at 7.