Ravens earn 1st volleyball conference win in 3 years

KALONA — Tuesday’s Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division volleyball match between Louisa-Muscatine and Hillcrest went to the Ravens 3-1. The two teams had met Saturday with the Ravens flying past the Falcons in a tournament, but this match meant much more.

“A team effort put away L-M for Hillcrest’s first conference win in three years,” first-year Ravens coach Brandon Staler said. “The final two points of the match saw Hillcrest’s freshmen come through, one big block and one big kill.”

Freshmen Malia Yoder and Kylee Statler helped the Ravens improve to 3-8 on the season with a 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 triumph.

Esther Hughes provided 11 kills, 11 digs and went 21-for-22 serving with seven aces while Yoder connected on seven kills, three aces and eight digs. Evelyn Gerber got to 14 digs, and Norah Yoder supplied 26 assists.