The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team completed their climb to the top of the River Valley Conference in 2023. The architect behind the program’s ascension, head coach Sherry Evans has been named RVC Coach of the Year. Evans and her staff guided the Hawks to a 31-11 overall mark, setting the school record for victories. Mid-Prairie earned a share of their first conference title since an Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference championship in 2002.

The Hawks spent the season ranked in the top 15 of Class 3A in every poll issued by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. They racked up double digit wins against ranked squads in the campaign.

The Golden Hawks finished in the top 10 of 3A in 12 different team and individual statistical categories. They led the state in 3A in digs, aces and kill efficiency rating. They were second in the state in total kills and assists. Individually, junior libero Dakota Mitchell was named River Valley Conference Player of the Year and led the state in digs and was eighth in aces. Sophomore Jovi Evans was in the top 10 of 3A in aces, kill efficiency, total kills and serving attempts. Junior Callie Huber was third in the state in kill efficiency.

The Golden Hawks had five players earn all-conference honors, first team selections Dakota Mitchell and Jovi Evans, second team picks Callie Huber and Harper Pacha and honorable mention selection Paige Safly.

This week, Evans spoke with KCII Sports, describing the recognition as an award for her entire staff, highlighting the group’s work and time invested to build the program. “It’s a really big honor to get voted by the coaches of the River Valley Conference. There’s a lot of great coaches there. In our program, it’s not a one person game. I say it’s an ‘us’ honor not a ‘me’ honor because it truly does take all of us to be so successful. My name just happens to be on the head coach paper. Carleen Miller, Becky Becker, Zeb Evans, and Kenzie Mantz. It’s all of us. It’s a great honor!”

The Golden Hawks advanced to the regional finals for the second straight season before bowing out at Center Point Urbana. It’s the first time the Hawks have reached the third round in back-to-back seasons since a six year string that began in 1999. Evans took over the Mid-Prairie program in 2019. The Hawks have seen their win total grow in each of her five seasons at the helm, from six to nine to 16 to 27 to 31. She has a 90-75 career mark on the sideline in Wellman. This is her second RVC Coach of the Year award, earning the recognition in 2022 after a 27-12 year.