Prep volleyball: Mid-Prairie stands tall

A huge night for the No. 15 (3A) Mid-Prairie volleyball team highlighted a busy Thursday in area volleyball as local conferences continued league play. On Saturday, a handful of area teams hit the hardwood for tournaments.

THURSDAY

No. 15 (3A) Mid-Prairie 3, No. 12 (2A) Wilton 0

Mid-Prairie hadn’t eaten Wilton in volleyball since 2015 until the Golden Hawks’ sweep in a battle of ranked teams. Mid-Prairie won 25-19, 25-12, 25-22. The victory snapped a seven-game Beaver win streak in the series.

Ella Groenewold led the way with 11 kills. Landry Pacha had 10 kills and 19 assists. Jovi Evans finished with nine kills, 17 assists and 11 digs, and Dakota Mitchell tallied a team-leading 23 digs.

It was only Wilton’s second loss of the 2022 season.

English Valleys 3, Keota 0

Keota couldn't’ steal a set in a road loss to English Valleys. The Eagles were swept 25-13, 25-16, 25-14.

Winfield-Mount Union 3, Lone Tree 0

It was all WMU in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division battle. The Wolves won 25-6, 25-15 and 25-18 to remain unbeaten in conference play.

Bradie Buffington led the Wolves with 13 kills. Melina Oepping had seven. Keetyn Townsley had 14 digs and five aces.

Setter Keely Malone dished out 25 assists, breaking the school record. Samantha Walker set the record at 1,175 in 2001, and now 21 years later, Malone is setting the bar for Wolves’ setters to come.

No. 10 (1A) New London 3, Mediapolis 0

The Tigers swept the Bullettes in a SEISC crossover showdown. New London took sets 26-24, 25-17 and 25-18.

Natalie Burden tallied 17 kills in the win. Sophie Malott had 10 kills. Elly Manning dished out 34 assists, and Emma Nye had 33 digs.

No. 5 (1A) Notre Dame 3, Van Buren County 0

The Warriors fell in three sets to Notre Dame, dropping games 25-11, 25-20 and 25-17.

Ivy Davidson had six kills in the loss. Annabelle Cormier had 14 digs and five assists.

SATURDAY

Fairfield 2-3 at Ottumwa tournament

The Trojans had the best day of the three big schools at the Ottumwa tournament, collecting two wins, including one over Washington. Fairfield also beat Albia during pool play, but lost in bracket play.

Mt. Pleasant was 1-3 with a win over the Demons as well. Washington finished 0-4.

WACO wins Cardinal tournament

The WACO Warriors swept their way through Cardinal’s home tournament. The Warriors beat Danville in three setse (21-8, 18-21, 15-11) and swept Highland (21-12, 21-16), Twin Cedars (21-12, 21-16) and Cardinal (21-12, 21-5).

New London 1-2 in North Mahaska

The Tigers fell twice to Pella Christian in the North Mahaska tournament. New London defeated Lynnville-Sully in two sets but couldn’t solve the Eagles, falling in three sets in pool play and two sets in the final.