Ravens’ Season Ends in First Round Against BGM

Oct. 22, 2025
Article & Photos by Giovanni Coronel/The News

Staying at home for the first round of 1A regional play, Hillcrest aimed to replicate its first round playoff success from a year ago but the visiting BGM Bears had other plans.   

Moving on to the 1A quarterfinals, BGM (12-9) scored a 3-0 road sweep (25-12, 25-20, 25-13) over the Ravens (16-11) last Monday.

“I think [BGM] came just ready to play,” Hillcrest head coach Tanna Boshart said after the playoff loss against BGM. “They really hurt us in the first set with their ball placement on their tips and unfortunately it took us a whole set to adjust to that.”

The first set was closely contested until the Bears built up a significant lead once both teams reached double digits. Hillcrest found itself trailing 14-10 and this deficit only grew as BGM went on a 11-2 run to close out the set.

“I thought we did much better in the second and third sets with our defensive coverage,” coach Boshart said. “But you can’t really afford to take a whole set to not get to your defensive spots and make the adjustments that we need to make.”

Hillcrest and BGM stuck close to each other like magnets in the second set but once again the Bears separated late, going on a 5-1 run while leading 20-19, to win what ended up being the most competitive set of the night.

The Ravens hoped to rally in the third set but BGM built up a 20-12 lead to eventually put the finishing touches on the sweep and end Hillcrest’s season in the first round of postseason play. 

“I think there were a bunch of nerves. For about half the team, this is their first postseason game, for the other half of the team this is their last postseason run,” coach Boshart said. “Between the pressure and some of the nerves, that’s some of the miscommunication, and I would say I didn’t feel like we played very clean.”

Senior Niva Helmuth and junior Ruth Witthoft both lead the Ravens with five kills each. Claire Withrow, a senior, finished with team highs in assists (12) and digs (15). 

Hillcrest heads into the offseason and says goodbye to seniors Helmuth, Withrow, Nora Swartzendruber, Tara Poole, Stavia Miller, and Adrianne Blauvelt.

The News Photos

Oct. 20, 2025
Article Credit: Zach Ulin/KCII
Wildcats Celebrate Seniors With Win Over Ravens
The Columbus Wildcat volleyball team defended their home floor on Senior Night with a Southeast Iowa Superconference win over Hillcrest Academy in four. The Wildcats were winners 25-23, 25-18, 24-26 and 25-14. Columbus leaders included Daniela Diaz with 35 assists and 16 digs. Kennedy Woepking had 20 kills and 16 digs. Zai Par had 18 digs. Jessica Del Rio 10 kills and eight aces. Jocelyn Hernandez had three aces.