The no 13th ranked Keota Eagle volleyball team had their season come to an end at the hands of a conference rival Friday evening.The Eagles (18-6) welcomed in the no 15 ranked Iowa Valley Tigers (23-7) to the Eagles Nest for a Class 1A Region 7 semifinal contest. This match was the second time these South Iowa Cedar Conference foes met on the court. After winning the first match in five sets (25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 18-25, 15-10) Keota lost the rematch in straight sets (25-11, 25-18, 25-22).

Keota started the match off slow, surrendering runs four separate four point runs as Iowa Valley took game one easily 25-11.

After battling to an 8-5 lead in game two, the Tigers went on a five point run to put the Eagles down 8-10. Iowa Valley never relinquished the lead, winning the second game 25-18.

Game three proved to be the best set of the night. The teams traded runs throughout the set, with Keota making a four point run near the end of the match to tie the game at 23. Iowa Valley got side out on a kill by junior Marissa Ward to regain the advantage. The match point went to Iowa Valley as well, with the ball hitting the rafters and falling on the Eagles side of the floor. Keota head volleyball coach Brandi Cave says beating the Tigers prior to tonight might of contributed to the teams’ slow start.

“You come in thinking ok we already beat them once so this should be easy I think,” Cave said, “I don’t know if thats what they did or it being Halloween. I have no idea, but they weren’t the normal team we had all year.”

Cave says despite the disappointing finish, the team has a lot to be proud of. “They have nothing no reason to come out of the locker with their heads down.” Cave said, “A 10-0 (conference record) season, I don’t think that has ever happened in Keota history.”

Those Keota seniors who finished up their careers tonight include:Maggie Baker, Callie Griener, Hannah Reed, Madison Sheetz, Maitland Sieren, and Brooke Sieren,  The Keaota Eagles end the 2014 season with an 18-7 record, and finished South Iowa Cedar Conference champions.