HOUSTON — The Houston Hawks closed the 2009 regular season with a trio of losses during a three-day road trip to the Interior late last week.

Lathrop scored a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-8) win over the Hawks last Thursday at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks.

Amber Acton led the Hawks with eight digs and five assists. Katie Hensley added six digs, three kills and a service ace. Savanna James chipped in four kills and two blocks. Last Friday, North Pole posted a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Houston at North Pole High School.

Natasha Choate-Batchelder recorded four kills, three digs and three blocks. Savannah Ritter had four kills and two aces. Acton registered four kills and four digs.

Houston’s trip was capped by a 3-0 (25-19, 25-8, 25-20) loss to West Valley at West Valley High School in Fairbanks last Saturday.

Hensley and Amy Orth each grabbed a team-high five digs. Choate-Batchelder led the Hawks with five kills.

Houston’s busy week started with a 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-13) win over Heritage Christian last Tuesday.

Choate-Batchelder posted 13 kills. Amber Madrid added four digs and two kills.

The Hawks return to Fairbanks this weekend for the Mid-Alaska Conference Championships. Houston, the tourney’s fourth seed, opens against top-seeded West Valley Friday at 7 p.m. at West Valley High School.