The defending District 11-AAA champion Hillsboro Burros knocked off rival Lawson 3-1 on Aug. 20 to start the 2026 volleyball season 2-0, and they'll look to stay perfect when they host Antioch at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Hillsboro High School.

Finley Fair led the attack with 13 kills, three blocks, five digs and two aces through two matches, while setter Bailey Evans ran the offense with 17 assists and six kills. Chloe Brock added 10 kills, a block and two digs. Eden Merryman anchored the back row with 11 digs, four assists and two aces, and Anaya Ashford contributed three blocks at the net.

The Lawson match carried extra weight.

Last season, Hillsboro finished 13-1 in district play to win the championship; Lawson finished second. The Aug. 20 victory moved the Burros into sole possession of first place in the early standings, and head coach Ashley Hill praised her team's chemistry and grit after the win.

"We are so proud of our team and their dedication to each other and the goals they set at the beginning of the season," Hill told the Hillsboro Globe, the school's student newspaper. "To win our first home match against Lawson is a solid step in the right direction. Both teams brought a tremendous amount of talent to the court."

Hillsboro opened the season two days earlier with a 3-0 sweep of Hunters Lane on the road Aug. 18, giving the Burros two district wins before most teams in the league had played twice.

The 13-player roster returns several contributors from last year's district title run. Evans, Merryman, Reese Burtner, Emily Hull and Evelyn McDaniel all played in a 3-0 sweep of Antioch last season, and they'll be on the court again Tuesday when the Burros try to push their record to 3-0. First serve is at 6 p.m.