The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team will be tested early, as they open the year at the Mount Vernon volleyball quad tonight.

The Golden Hawks are coming off of the most successful season in program history. It was a year that included an outright River Valley Conference championship, the first for the Hawks since 2004 and the first time they had ever won a share of a league title in back-to-back years, an RVC South Tournament championship and a bid to their first state tournament in 20 years, and third ever for the program. Mid-Prairie won a school record 33 matches. The Hawks ended the year ranked in the top 10 of Class 3A in 11 different categories including kill efficiency, total kills, assists, team digs and service aces. Individually, graduated seniors Dakota Mitchell finished third in the state in digs and seventh in aces, her fellow senior Callie Huber was fourth in kill efficiency. While the Hawks do have to replace seven seniors including All-Conference, All-District and All-State performers Mitchell and Huber, they do return All-RVC and All-District choices Harper Pacha, Jovi Evans and Jeorgia Evans. Jovi Evans was River Valley Player of the Year and All-State. Mid-Prairie is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A according to the preseason poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, it’s the highest ever ranking for Golden Hawk volleyball. Golden Hawk coaches Sherry and Zeb Evans joined the KCII PM Sports Page this week to talk about what has them excited for the season. “We’re really excited for the depth we have this season. We have experience across the board. There’s a lot of talent coming in. The younger players have been working hard. They’re starting to understand the fundamentals and come together. Recently, we were doing a ball control drill and we look across the gym, and everyone can do it. Those things are exciting for our staff. That’s what we pride ourselves on, the fundamentals, that’s why we do things like that every single day. It makes the game easier. Super excited for the mix of newcomers and returners to come together!”

The field the Golden Hawks will face tonight includes Class 4A state runner-up No. 3 Pella, Class 4A No. 12 Bondurant-Farrar and Class 3A No. 8, defending state champion Mt. Vernon. Action starts at 5p.m. And continues into the evening in Mt. Vernon.