Having to wait more than a week between contests, 10 days to be exact, Hillcrest returned to the volleyball court to challenge WACO in what was their first five set game of the season. 

Unfortunately for the Ravens, this game only took three sets to complete with the WACO Warriors earning the victory in a sweep, 3-0, with final scores of 25-12, 25-15, 25-21 on Aug. 31.  

With this win, WACO elevated its record to 2-2 and this loss dropped Hillcrest to the same exact record. 

This was a road game for Hillcrest and the hosting Warriors took control of the contest early.

In the first set, WACO scored first to take the lead and never let it go for the remainder of the contest. With Hillcrest falling behind by as many as 14 points the first set ended with the biggest point differential of the night.  

The second set followed more of the same script. 

The Warriors won the set in comfortable fashion but the Ravens were able to find more of a rhythm on offense and this carried over into the third set, the most competitive set of the night. 

Hillcrest elevated their level of play in set three, crossing the 20-point threshold for the first time on the night, but it still proved to be not enough. WACO handled Hillcrest’s surge, winning the set and the match. 

Leading the way for the Ravens on offense and putting together a commendable defensive performance was junior Malia Yoder. Yoder ended the match with the most kills (8) and she led the team in digs (18)

In the assists department it was sophomore Claire Withrow who had the most assists (20) for Hillcrest on the night. 

When it came to serving sophomore, Tara Poole was able to make her presence on the court known by leading the Ravens in service aces (2). 

English Valleys Tournament 

Over the weekend Hillcrest competed in its second tournament of the young season and they tasted both victory and defeat. 

The Ravens clashed with four different teams, and they ended the tourney on Sept. 2 with two wins and two losses. 

One of their losses came against a team they just played just two days prior, the WACO Warriors.

This rematch once again went in WACO’s favor. The Warriors continue to be a thorn in the side of Hillcrest, defeating them 2-0, with final scores of 21-15 and 21-18.  

Versus WACO the Raven who produced the most kills (6) was junior Malia Yoder. She also led the team in digs (7). Leading the Ravens in assists (8) was sophomore Claire Withrow.  

Hillcrest’s second loss of the tourney came at the hands of the host school, the English Valleys Bears. 

The Ravens defeated the Bears earlier this season, but they were able to get their revenge, emerging victorious over Hillcrest, 2-0, with final scores of 21-18 and 21-17. 

Versus English Valleys Yoder continued to lead the Ravens in kills (5) and digs (16). Withrow was also able to continue to lead the Ravens in assists (13)

In the two wins Hillcrest earned at this tourney they came over the Tri-County Trojans and the Sigourney Savages. 

The Ravens, playing full sets against the Trojans, were able to stand tall once the dust was settled. They defeated Tri-County, 2-1, with final scores of 21-10, 21-15, and 15-12. 

It was another game in which Yoder led the team in kills (8) and digs (11) and where Withrow was able to lead the team in assists (15). 

Against the Savages, it was another full set win for Hillcrest. The Ravens claimed victory over Sigourney, 2-1, with final scores of 21-15, 21-18, and 15-11.

Leading the Ravens in kills (10) this time was sophomore Niva Helmuth, but Yoder was still able to lead the team in digs (17). 

Withrow put together a fantastic performance as a setter, once again leading the team in assists (23), the most she had during the tournament. 

Hillcrest (4-4) played in their first home game of the season against Pekin (0-5) on Sept. 5. Up next for the Ravens is hitting the road to challenge Wapello (5-8) on Sept. 7.