Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Volleyball Social Media

After a milestone Monday, the No. 8 in Class 3A Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team makes their way to Maquoketa tonight for the finals of the River Valley Conference tournament. The Golden Hawks are 28-7 this year, finishing as regular season champions of the South Division of the River Valley. Monday, Mid-Prairie beat West Liberty and Wilton to win the RVC South Division Tournament title for the first time. The Hawks are ranked No. 8 in Class 3A according to the latest poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. On the year as a team, the Golden Hawks have 1,684 digs, second in Class 3A, 1,032 kills, fifth in 3A, 978 assists, fourth in 3A, 210 aces, seventh in 3A and 162 blocks. Individually, Jovi Evans leads with 487 assists, 276 kills, 10th in 3A and she and Dakota Mitchell both have 46 aces. Mitchell has 452 digs, fourth in 3A and Brylee Gearhart has 35 blocks. Monday, co-head coaches Sherry and Zeb Evans joined KCII Sports to talk about the Golden Hawks most recent play.

The coaches said, “In some of our recent wins, previous teams may have struggled with those and lost them. This year’s team is a new look, different team, different mentality. The girls are pushing forward and they really want to win. The mindset is definitely different and we are trying to push that mindset so they don’t come out too comfortable. We have to remember to come out and start earlier. Start swinging earlier, and take control of the match earlier. Getting important wins this time of year is what it’s about. The girls have bought into the philosophy. They are staying focused and driven. They know what our big goal is for the end of this season. Thursday, we need to come in, take care of business and clean some things up, and we will.”

Mid-Prairie comes into tonight’s event with the top seed out of the south. They will be joined in the tournament by No. 10 in 3A Wilton, West Liberty, No. 9 in 2A Iowa City Regina, Bellevue, No. 3 in 2A Dyersville Beckman, No. 12 in 3A Anamosa and Cascade. The Hawks open with the Bellevue Comets at 4p.m. and action continues into the night Thursday in Maquoketa.