Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook

The Hillcrest Academy Raven volleyball team made quick work of the Lone Tree Lions Thursday in Kalona, winning a Southeast Iowa Superconference match in straight sets. The Ravens were winners by scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-17. Hillcrest was led on the night by Claire Withrow’s 29 assists. Malia Yoder posted a team best 14 kills and five aces and tied for the team lead with Withrow and Lydia Beachy, finishing with eight digs. Niva Helmuth led at the net with five blocks. After the match, KCII Sports talked with Hillcrest seniors Beachy and Zoey Curtiss about the win.

Beachy said, “We had some times tonight where we would lose the lead. By the third set, we were tired of doing that, we pulled ahead and we finished it out. We had great information between each other and our coaches. Lone Tree wasn’t a huge hitting team. They liked to tip. In the middle back I had to adjust where I was setting up.”

Curtiss continued, “I think in past years, we have just kind of crumbled in the last few points. This year, we all just focus in and work hard to win. We did well communicating tonight and playing hard with the team. We had to adapt to their hits tonight, adjusting to the spots on the court where they were hitting the ball.”

Top performers for the Lady Lions included three kills each for Alyson Ford and Cate Sexton. Hayden Yoder finished with six assists. Alex Dautremont had 10 digs, and Ford Sexton and Yoder one block each. The win moves the Ravens to 7-2 this season while the Lions fall to 4-6.