The Little Hawkeye Conference will stage a one day volleyball tournament tonight at Newton High School, with all eight teams participating.

Pella is the regular season champion, having swept through the schedule at 7-0. Coach Catie Brand says that it should be a good tune up for what lies ahead.

“Most teams are getting ready for the postseason and we don’t do as many Saturday tournaments. So the idea is to get our schools back together and have competitive play. Plus, we want to celebrate where the Little Hawkeye Conference is with volleyball, get our teams together and compete against one another.”

Pella Christian Coach John Evenhouse says that it’s a pool format, with two four-team pools based on regular season league standings.

“It’ll be first, fourth, fifth and eighth in one pool and the other four teams in the other pool. You’ll play each of the teams in your pool, so you’ll play three straight matches because they’re using four courts. And then they’ll play off the first place team from one pool against the first place team in the other pool for first and second. And the second place teams will play for third and fourth, and so on and so forth.”

One pool features Pella, Dallas Center Grimes, Oskaloosa and Grinnell. The other includes Norwalk, Pella Christian, Indianola and Newton.

Action starts at 4:30 this afternoon at Newton High School.