The Iola High School volleyball team left fans with plenty to look forward to next season after sweeping Osawatomie in both sets and Prairie View in their final home triangular of 2025.
The Mustangs opened the evening sweeping the Prairie View Buffalos 25-20 in both sets, then the Osawatomie Trojans 25-20 and 28-26 in extra sets.
“I could not be prouder of how our team played,” Iola coach Lauren Moots said. “They came out against Prairie View on fire, and they kept it up. That win, coming back and staying in it, shows how much growth they’ve had. I’ve never seen them all on, everybody was in it.”
Although separated by 5 points in the first set, Tuesday’s finale was a dogfight from first serve. After getting a bit of breathing room with a 3-point advantage in the first set, junior outside hitter Dally Curry set up match point with a dig dropping just over the net, then Iola’s middle blockers forced an errant shot to secure the 25-20 win. Curry struck again in the second set, dropping the game winner and securing the Mustangs’ first Pioneer League sweep of the season.
“It gives you a lot of confidence when everybody on the team trusts in you and that you’re going to put the ball away,” said Curry, who had a team-leading 20 kills and 25 digs in both contests.
“You’re going to win the game for your team. My setter has enough trust in me to know I can do that job. That shows how much we bonded and get along.”
With the wins, the Iola Mustangs end the regular season 9-23 and 3-9 in Pioneer League play.
The Mustangs enter Monday’s regional tournament at Girard High School as the 13th seed.
“Why not us? If we play like that, then the sky is the limit,” Moots said. “Yes, we’re going to battle against some good teams Monday, including Osawatomie. As long as they come out and play their game, they set the tone.They determine what happens Monday.”
Although having lost to many of the teams they will face Monday, junior setter Zoie Hesse believes the Mustangs are a much different team than opponents saw earlier in the season.
Hesse, who had a team-leading nine blocks and 15 assists over both contests, believes their team has gone from green to seasoned and could make a Cinderella run through the regional bracket.
“I’m excited. We should be able to go very far with our team,” Hesse said.
