Bailey Boeve, freshman and ‘absolute beast,’ leads Hinton in state volleyball first-round win

CORALVILLE — Bailey Boeve isn’t your typical wide-eyed, timid freshman.

“She’s an absolute beast,” Ashlyn Kovarna said. “Every time you go to her, there she goes, kill.”

Boeve ripped off 22 kills, and fourth-ranked Hinton christened its first state volleyball trip in nine years with a four-set victory (25-20, 25-22, 18-25, 25-13) over No. 5 Denver in a in a Class 2A quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon at Xtream Arena.

“After we lost the third set, we just told each other that we needed to get after it again,” Boeve said. “We had to come back out there with energy and positivity.”

Hinton (27-2) advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal against No. 1 Dike-New Hartford (43-2). First serve is 4 p.m.

Boeve may have been an unknown in these parts. Not so in Hinton and the surrounding area.

“She’s in the same grade as my sister, so I’ve watched her play since fourth grade,” Kovarna said. “I knew she was going to be special.”

The 5-foot-11 middle hitter has led the Blackhawks in kills, and leads the state in blocks. She posted 5 1/2 blocks Tuesday.

Hinton took control of the first set with a four-point run to go in front, 16-14. In Game 2, Boeve recorded three straight points (kill, block, kill) in a four-point run for a 21-16 advantage.

Denver (36-11) stormed through Game 3 behind Kayla Knowles (who finished with 28 kills), then Hinton answered.

Kovarna posted 44 assists for the Blackhawks. She and Boeve collected 16 digs apiece.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com