Yes, winning volleyball has arrived at Highland High School and Hillcrest Academy.

Both teams have winning records for the first time in years.

Both reached the final day of competition in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Tournament.

And both will host Class 1A first-round tournament games next Monday.

Three of the top outside hitters in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North come from Hillcrest and Highland, including No. 1 Malia Yoder of Hillcrest.

Highland, which hosts North Cedar in Monday’s tournament opener, has won 17 matches for the first time since 2016.

“We just really bond,” said Adeline Krotz, a senior whose 171 kills rank No. 3 in the SEISC North. “We don’t have any drama. We’re all there for each other as a team and not individually, and I think that definitely helps us as a team.”

A four-match win streak earlier this season included five-set victories over Hillcrest, Lone Tree and Louisa-Muscatine on Senior Night.

“It has been awesome,” said Krotz, who was selected as Homecoming Queen last week. “We have broken many school records.”

Krotz is among three Huskies to start in all 29 matches this year, joining senior Laney Skelton and sophomore Hailey Brun, who ranks fifth in the SEISC North in kills.

Cruising Ravens

While Highland has soared in volleyball, the same has happened at Hillcrest.

The Ravens have also won 19 matches for the first time since 2018.

Yoder, a senior, has delivered 314 kills, 55 aces and 13 blocks.

Claire Withrow, a junior, leads the SEISC North in assists with 592.

The Ravens had a nine-match win streak that included seven sweeps. One of them was against Highland.

The Ravens host Keota in a 1A playoff Monday.

Road to Coralville

Highland and Lone Tree were both placed into a 1A postseason tournament bracket that includes second-ranked Holy Trinity Catholic.

The Huskies (17-12) will host North Cedar (10-19) on Monday at 7. A win would send the Huskies to a regional quarterfinal Wednesday against Calamus-Wheatland (19-8) or Prince of Peace (2-20).

Lone Tree (8-17) plays a first-round match Monday at Winfield-Mt. Union (12-10). The reward? A date with Holy Trinity Catholic on October 23.

Hillcrest Academy (19-8) was placed in Region 7, where the highest-ranked team is North Tama at No. 7. The Ravens host Keota (4-14) on Monday, then would play Belle Plaine (15-12) or English Valleys (6-17) two nights later.

The Ravens could meet North Tama in the semifinals October 28.

Regional winners advance to the state tournament in Coralville.

Road to Coralville 3A

Mid-Prairie’s run toward the state volleyball tournament begins next Tuesday when it hosts Davis County (11-25) in a 3A quarterfinal. The Golden Hawks (30-8), with a No. 8 ranking, will host all regional matches. A win Monday would tie last year’s single-season record for victories.

If the Golden Hawks defeat Davis County, then Albia (18-8) or Centerville (8-15) in the October 24 semifinals, they could face a rematch with River Valley rival West Liberty or Wilton in the regional championship game. Mid-Prairie defeated both West Liberty and Wilton in the River Valley South Conference Tournament.

Mid-Prairie is aiming for the 3A state tournament, which begins November 5 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

News columnist Paul Bowker can be reached at bowkerpaul1@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bowkerpaul