DURANT

Five words in a timeout provided the biting motivation for Mid-Prairie’s volleyball team.

“You better get this done.”

And the Golden Hawks did.

Trailing by nine points in the second set of a River Valley Conference match last week at Durant, the Golden Hawks rallied for a dramatic 27-25 win.

They celebrated on the court with high-fives and shouts, and then went on for a three-set sweep in the middle of a season that has been filled with three-set sweeps.

“It was a big milestone for us,” Golden Hawks head coach Sherry Evans said.

By itself, a second set in a best-of-five conference match between a team that is ranked eighth in Iowa 3A and one with a losing record didn’t mean much. But the way this happened Sept. 24 in Durant clearly demonstrated Mid-Prairie’s explosiveness and determination in a season that has already produced 21 wins and 18 sweeps this season.

The Golden Hawks had mysteriously fallen behind by nine points, 22-13, in the second set after cruising through the first set with a 25-17 win.

Jovi Evans, a junior setter, said they heard these words in a timeout: “You better get this done or it’s not gonna be good.”

The fire fueled by coaches Sherry and Zeb Evans exploded in front of Durant.

Four times, the Golden Hawks answered on set points by Durant. A kill by senior Callie Huber tied the match at 24-24. Then, after a 25-25 tie, the Golden Hawks won it, 27-25, on consecutive kills by Harper Pacha to finish off an 11-1 run.

“We just needed to focus,” said senior libero Dakota Mitchell, who had a match-high 21 digs.

Mid-Prairie overcame a 5-point deficit in the third set, scoring the last eight points for a 25-23 win.

Jovi Evans led the Golden Hawks with a triple-double: a match-high 12 kills and a match-high 21 assists, and 13 digs. She is the only player in Iowa with at least 180 kills and 300 assists this season.

Pacha, a junior who ranks fifth in kills in the River Valley South, had 10 kills. Callie Huber added 6 kills and 3 blocks.

Four Golden Hawk defenders reached double figures in digs, led by Mitchell’s 21. Mitchell also had 4 serving aces.

South Tama Tourney

Mid-Prairie swept five opponents to win the South Tama Tournament held last Saturday.

The Golden Hawks defeated Martensdale-St. Mary’s, 21-12, 21-9; Waterloo East, 21-10, 21-5; Belle Plaine, 21-9, 21-14; Lisbon, 21-8, 21-12; and South Tama, 21-12, 21-18.

Jovi Evans led the Golden Hawks with 30 kills, 50 assists and 31 digs in five matches. She also had a service ace in every match, totaling 11.

Callie Huber added 22 kills and Harper Pacha had 21.

Jeorgia Evans had 27 digs, and Dakota Mitchell and Lanee Duwa each had 25.