WEST BURLINGTON 

The stay was brief, but just being there was historic.

For the first time in program history, Hillcrest Academy advanced to the finals of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference volleyball tournament, which was staged Saturday at Loren Walker Arena on the campus of Southeastern Community College.

“Just to get here, they’ve been overachieving all year,” third-year Hillcrest Coach Brandon Statler said after the Ravens were eliminated by Class 2A No. 10 West Burlington, 25-7, 25-7, in the first finals match. “We can’t learn these things without doing these things.”

To reach the finals, Hillcrest (15-5) battled through Thursday’s pool play round at Fort Madison. The ninth-seeded Ravens were placed in a pool with 1A No. 4 Holy Trinity Catholic — the tournament’s top seed and host school — plus eighth-seeded Van Buren and No. 16 seed Louisa-Muscatine.

Senior Malia Yoder totaled 20 kills and 29 digs, while junior Claire Withrow distributed 37 assists as the Ravens dispatched both Van Buren (21-11, 22-20) and Louisa-Muscatine (21-15, 21-11) via two-set sweeps sandwiched around a 21-12, 21-4 setback to Holy Trinity Catholic.

The second-place finish in pool play delivered Hillcrest to the finals, where second-seeded West Burlington awaited.

“‘We’ve got some big matches ahead,’ is what I told the girls,” Statler said. “And we can use this big environment. Two courts going crazy, a lot of pressure, ranked teams all around. We can use that to to feel like we deserve to be there against other tough matches this year. We can’t do that without being there. I can’t tell them about it. They have got to learn it.”

Hillcrest visits WACO Thursday.

HIGHLAND ALSO OUSTED

Highland also reached Saturday’s SEISC volleyball tournament finals at Southeastern Community College.

In the latest grudge match between Highland and Wapello, the sixth-seeded Huskies were eliminated by the No. 5 seed, 25-16, 25-11.

“Wapello has always been that rival that we try to beat every time,” third-year Highland Coach Shannon Hills said. “We got down on ourselves. We weren’t playing as a team. Everyone was kind of just playing individually and not working together, so that always is kind of our downfall.”

In contrast to the three four-team pools in Thursday’s round, Highland (16-10) was placed in the lone five-team pool, hosted by third-seeded Mediapolis.

Highland senior middle hitter Adeline Krotz collected 23 total kills in four pool play matches, which included a loss to Mediapolis and wins over New London, Columbus Commhnity and WACO. Highland setter Laney Skelton totaled 47 assists, while senior libero Lilly Barre contributed 39 digs.

“When they work together,” Hills said when asked what she liked about the pool play performances. “We have definitely tried to make it more about reminding them it’s a team sport instead of an individual sport. That has been a huge thing this year already. We have a lot of bones to pick with people who have beat us in the past and we’re out to actually win some games and dominate this year.”

Highland resumes the regular season schedule Thursday with a road rematch against Wapello.