CRESTON - As they have done 14 times now on the season, the fourth-ranked Iowa Central volleyball team scored a sweep.

The Tritons concluded their regular season in convincing fashion, besting Southwestern here Wednesday night by scores of 25-15, 25-10 and 25-22.

Iowa Central (17-3 overall, 16-3 in ICCAC) will be the No. 1 seed when Region XI Tournament play begins. The Tritons will host a semifinal contest on Sunday inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Kealey Anderson recorded 15 kills, six digs and two serving aces while Angel Baylark had 10 kills and four blocks. Haley Alharithy chipped in six kills and five blocks with Alesha Johnson registering 27 assists, 11 digs and three blocks.

"Southwestern is much-improved from the last time we played them so we were happy to get out of there with a 3-0 win," Iowa Central head coach Sara Horn said. "We could potentially play them again in the semifinals on Sunday and they aren't a team to overlook. This will be great film for us to review and gear us up for regionals."

Katilyn Steffes added four kills and seven digs with three blocks, Baylyn Johnson had 15 digs and Karli Eckert 10 for the Tritons, who enter the postseason having won seven of their last eight.

"Our conference is so good this year," Horn said. "We have four Top-10 teams alone so we are extremely excited and humbled to take the top seed going into next week. The team is fired up. Ending the season 17-3 in a year like this one is a huge accomplishment in itself, but we are ready to get back to work."

Joining Iowa Central in the Region XI-A Tournament will be Hawkeye, North Iowa Area, Ellsworth and Southwestern. Ellsworth and Southwestern play Thursday with the winner advancing to take on the Tritons Sunday at 1 p.m. NIACC and Hawkeye meet in the other semifinal with the championship set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. 

-By Dana Becker