The volleyball season starts tonight for another KCII area school when Hillcrest Academy travels to the Fairfield tournament. The Ravens are coming off of an 0-27 season last year. The Ravens won a single set on the season, at the Wilton tournament they took one in a best of three against Midland. The Ravens return their leader in kills from last year in Yani Gutierrez for her senior season after 57 kills in her junior year. She also led last year’s edition of the Ravens with 112 assists. Malia Sedlacek returns to lead the Hillcrest defense with 106 digs, along with Esther Hughes who had 14 blocks in her sophomore season. This week, first year Hillcrest head coach Taylor Kurtz talked about her team. “I am familiar with Hillcrest, I was here for four years as an assistant softball coach. We have eight girls who are out this year. Seven of them are returners with one junior transfer. Seniors are Yani Gutierrez, Sophie Marshall and Melia Sedlacek. Juniors are Esther Hughes, Evelyn Gerber, Grace Miller and Norah Yoder. Kylie Dolan transferred in from Washington. Our biggest strength right now is communication and teamwork. They are a really tight-knit group of girls.”
The Ravens will be joined in Fairfield by Albia, Eddyville-Blakesburg and Fairfield. The Lady Dees were 29-10 a year ago, advancing to the regional finals in the playoffs. Albia graduated 751 kills from last year as their top three offensive players moved on. They will turn to junior Jenna Gronewold who finished with 80 kills last season. She is also the leading returner from last year with 93 assists. Albia has to replace their top four defensive players from a season ago who accounted for more than 1,000 digs. Top returner is Emma Wenger back for her sophomore year after 143 digs last season.
Eddyville-Blakesburg was 11-21 last season. The Rockets will turn to Brooke Shafer who is back for her senior season after finishing second on the team a year ago with 211 kills. Peyton Deevers is also back for her final season after finishing second on the team last year with 209 assists. Defensively, the Rockets leader with 359 digs from last year Emalee Davis returns. Shafer also paced the Rockets last year with 62 blocks.
Fairfield was 8-27 last year. The Trojans return Olivia Jones as a senior with her team best 155 kills from a year ago. Sophie Wallerich is the leading returner with just 33 assists last season. Defensively, Fairfield lost their top three in digs from 2019 and will look to Wallerich who ended last season with 97. At the net, Jones had a team best 42 blocks last season.
Hillcrest went 0-3 at this event last season, dropping all three matches in sweeps. Action begins tonight at 5:45 at Fairfield High School. Those attending are required to wear masks.