The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team has a chance to qualify for state, and make program history tonight when they take on Center Point-Urbana in the Class 3A Regional Finals at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman. The Golden Hawks enter play at 29-9 on the year, they were 6-1, Co-Champs of the River Valley Conference South. The Hawks swept past Davis County and West Liberty in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Mid-Prairie is ranked No. 8 in the final poll of the season from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. This year, the Golden Hawks lead the state in Class 3A with a .306 swing efficiency, to go with a state-leading 1,939 digs. They are third in 3A with 1,168 kills, fifth with 1,065 assists and sixth with 229 aces. Individual leaders include Avery Helmuth with 539 assists, Jeorgia Evans with 536 digs, third in 3A, Jovi Evans with 400 kills, third in 3A, Jovi and Jeorgia Evans with 56 aces each, eighth in 3A, and Laurin Fay with 64 blocks.

Center Point-Urbana is 22-13 this year, they finished 2-3 in the WAMAC. They have swept Vinton-Shellsburg and Benton to reach the finals. On the year the Stormin’ Pointers have 1,524 digs, 978 kills, 894 assists, 185 aces and 180 blocks. Individual Pointer leaders include Taylor Hoskins with 442 digs, ninth in 3A, Adelyn Stien with 389 assists, Brynley Havel with 255 kills, Jayce Grennan with 44 aces and Kyra White with 44 blocks. Golden Hawk co-head coaches Zeb and Sherry Evans joined the KCII Postgame show after the Hawk’s semi-final win over West Liberty to talk about the points of emphasis for Tuesday. “I think it’s scary for other teams that we can do that (put so many hitting weapons on the floor) and execute. We’re able to draw the block and make an open net for someone else. We need to keep moving the ball around the net and offensively, putting it away when we need to. Defensively, we have to pick up balls, scrap balls and never give up on anything. We need to have more of the same that you saw tonight. Stay disciplined on defense. We know them pretty well. We coach three, maybe four of the kids that they have. They’re good players. They’re coming to our place, and we’re good at home.”

CPU is 6-1 all-time against Mid-Prairie including a regional final meeting in 2023 where the Pointers beat the Hawks in four. CPU is looking for their fourth trip to State all-time and first since 2023. Mid-Prairie is trying to reach state for the fourth time and do it in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. You can hear all of the action live tonight between No. 8 Mid-Prairie and No. 12 CPU in the Class 3A Regional finals on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Golden Hawk Playoff Pregame Show at 6:30p.m. And first serve at seven from Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman.