Hillcrest Academy volleyball in 2022

KALONA — The 2022-23 volleyball season is almost here and for Hillcrest Academy it’s going to look a bit different from 2021.

Returning from last years varsity squad are just five players. The other five that played last season graduated.

There will be new kills and assist leaders for the Ravens this time around.

Graduates Norah Yoder and Esther Hughes led Hillcrest Academy in those two categories last time.

Yoder led the Ravens in assists with 388. She was the only Raven to break both double and triple digits.

Fellow graduate Evelyn Gerber was the next closest with 11 assists.

Hughes finished 2021 with a team best 177 kills.

On the kills side of things, Hillcrest Academy is in good hands.

Following Hughes in kills was senior Vlada Conea with 98 kills and sophomore Malia Yoder with 93.

Sophomore Kylee Statler also will see an increase in kills in 2022. Statler had 65 in her first season.

Malia Yoder also led Hillcrest on the defensive end. She ended with 271 total digs last season. She also had a team best in serving aces with 50.

If one things for sure, it’s that the Hillcrest Academy volleyball team will look somewhat different this fall, but there’s plenty of talent on the Ravens roster with varsity minutes.

Hillcrest Academy will open its season on Aug. 25 in the Steve Heisel Quad at Fairfield High School. They will face WACO on Sept. 1 in their first divisional test.

2022 Hillcrest Academy volleyball schedule

Sept. 1 vs. WACO

Sept. 6 at Pekin

Sept. 8 vs. Wapello

Sept. 13 at Winfield-Mt. Union

Sept. 15 vs. Columbus

Sept. 29 at Highlan

Oct. 6 vs. Lone Tree

Oct. 11 at Louisa-Muscatine