The Hillcrest Academy Raven volleyball team went down swinging Tuesday in a Southeast Iowa Superconference match on the road against Louisa-Muscatine. The Falcons won the contest in four sets by scores of 25-14, 26-24, 20-25 and 25-19. After a tough start to the match in which L-M led 15-5 in set one, the Ravens turned it on. Hillcrest led the second set until late when L-M recovered to nip them. Hillcrest took the third set and in the fourth set, Hillcrest again led most of the way before the Falcons came out on top. After the match, Raven head coach Taylor Kurtz talked about the last three sets and the progress her team is making. “After set one, I told them our energy and intensity were way down because we got behind. When we finally found ourselves we put up a fight. I told them they needed to bring that energy and intensity from the beginning. They were putting to much pressure on themselves individually instead of playing as a team. Once they realized that, it all came together. Right now, I can see how well they are playing together. I can tell when they are in their own heads and when they are playing together and holding each other accountable.”

On the night Hillcrest was led by Grace Miller with 19 digs. Esther Hughes had 10 kills and Yani Gutierrez finished with eight assists. With the loss, the Ravens fall to 0-5 on the year as they get ready for Mediapolis on Thursday. L-M is now 2-0. They travel to Lone Tree Thursday.