Ravens Volleyball Kick Off Season at Keota Tournament

**Back left:** Malia Yoder, Lydia Beachy, Claire Withrow, Kylee Statler **2nd left:** Erin Bontrager, Andrea Zabibu, Adrianne Blauvelt, Maria Portillo, Hailey Chalupa Front left: Anna Torok, Tara Poole, Niva Helmuth, Zoey Curtiss **Not Pictured:** Emily Curtiss, Head Coach Brandon Statler, Manager Delaney Shaw ***Photo Credit: Jeff Yoder/The News***

Our Hillcrest Raven Volleyball team kicked off the 2022 season Monday night in Keota. Four Ravens saw the first extended action of their high school volleyball careers!

English Valley was up first and stormed out at an alarming pace before the Ravens could slow them down and go on an attack of their own. It was too little too late however, and Hillcrest dropped the first set 25-13. Set two was a different story, and the Ravens controlled the set early, but ultimately gave up an untimely run to close out the set dropping set 2, 25-18.

Next up was Highland, another Junior-Senior dominated team. The Ravens struggled with movement again in set one, and fell 25-10. Set 2, again, was a different story, and the Ravens took control early and attacked often for a 25-18 win. Set 3 was back and forth, tied late, and full of many good rallies, but the Ravens struggled to attack late and dropped set 3 with a close one, 15-12.

Fresh off their first set win of the season, the Ravens came out firing against Lone Tree in match 3, taming the Lions 25-10 in set 1. Set 2 wasn’t destined to be a route though, as the Lions fought back and led much of the way. A true team effort gave the Ravens a come from behind win, setting much of the gym abuzz about these young Ravens and their roster which didn’t include an eligible junior or senior athlete!!

Highlights for Hillcrest:
Niva Helmuth – 15 kills, 5 service aces, 1 block and 10 digs
Malia Yoder – 12 kills, 23 assists, 2 aces, and 13 digs
Claire Withrow – 11 kills, 26 assists
Kylee Statler – 8 kills, 9 aces, and 1 block