After a fall full of success on the hard court at Mid-Prairie High School, Golden Hawk head volleyball coach Sherry Evans has been named Class 3A Southeast District Coach of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

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 Mitchell and Jovi Evans, second team picks Huber and Harper Pacha and honorable mention selection Paige Safly. Three Hawks, Mitchell, Jovi Evans, and Pacha were named All-Southeast District this season and that same trio was also selected to Class 3A All-State teams.

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. Evans said, “It’s a really big honor. It’s not a one person game here. I say it’s an ‘us’ honor not a ‘me’ honor. It truly does take the full staff to be successful. It’s an honor for all of us. Carleen Perez, 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. She’s also been named RVC Coach of the Year twice, earning the recognition this season and in 2022.