PEMBROKE — It may have been just over a year since the Lady Raiders last played a competitive regular-season match, but the team in kelly green and gold didn’t miss a step Tuesday.
Richmond Senior High School’s volleyball team started the school’s 2020-2021 sports calendar off with a convincing four-set win on the road at Purnell Swett High School.
Taking care of the Lady Rams 3-1, the Lady Raiders won by set scores of 25-10, 25-15, 14-25 and 25-15.
The victory proved to be Richmond’s 14th straight victory over Purnell Swett dating back to Sept. 9, 2014, and it was just the fourth time in that span that the Lady Raiders gave up a set.
Behind a strong effort from senior middle hitters Georgia Grace Anderson and Jakerra Covington, and the added flash of mandatory face masks, the Lady Raiders won their fourth consecutive season opener. Richmond is now 3-0 in opening matches under head coach Ashleigh Larsen.
“Jakerra and I were a big presence at the net which caused Purnell Swett to scramble,” Anderson said after the win. “We blocked well and we were aggressive.
“It is so good to start the season with a dub, especially since we have waited so long to play.”
Anderson and Covington were big up front to start the first set, and helped the Lady Raiders roll out to a 13-4 lead. Covington had a tip at the net and an ace to start a run, and that was followed by an Anderson block at the net with fellow senior Taylor Chappell.
On the next two volleys, Anderson delivered two more points with a push and a kill, one of her team-high 12 kills on the night. In the first set, Anderson and Covington each had four kills, while senior outside hitter Kelly Hoffman added three of her own.
Following an ace from Chappell, Covington collected three big points down the stretch to close the set. She delivered a left-handed kill off the hands of Madison Jones Harris to earn the win.
“The girls came out aggressive in the first and second set,” Larsen said. “The third set we sort of got complacent and Purnell started finding some open holes. They are always known for not allowing us to win in three.
“I’m glad we were able to get it back together and end up with the win.”
The second set was similar to the first, seeing Covington add three of her 10 total kills on the night. Junior Allyiah Swiney served up two aces, while Chappell notched two kills from the outside hitter position.
With both teams tied at six points in the second, Richmond used a 10-2 run to open the match up. That stretch included an Anderson kill, back-to-back aces from Swiney and a monster slam from Chappell.
Purnell Swett called a timeout trailing 15-8, but Richmond managed to maintain pressure. Covington again helped seal the set win with a pair of kills for two of the final three points.
“(Georgia Grace and Jakerra) were both smart with the ball,” Larsen said. “They had big swings when needed, and when provided the opportunity for a wide-open net, they tipped the ball intelligently.”
Kaitlyn Locklear set the pace for the Lady Rams in the third set, serving six straight points to give the home team an early advantage. Richmond trailed the entire set and never got within more than two points after Locklear’s performance.
The final set was all Richmond, as the team tallied a match-high 14 kills in the closing frame. Anderson picked up five kills in the set, along with three from senior libero Emy Cooley and two more from Kelly Hoffman.
Swiney proved effective from the line, adding two more aces on serves in the fourth. She also contributed to six points won in the set, just one off Kelly Hoffman’s team-high seven points.
Cooley broke a 2-2 tie with a kill out of the backcourt early, which sparked a 4-0 run. After another Purnell Swett timeout, this time trailing 10-5, Anderson and Hoffman went back and forth and each tacked on two more kills.
Following an ace from Swiney and a tip from senior Shelly Hoffman, Anderson put the exclamation point on the match with a kill to secure the win.
Larsen noted she’ll use a two-setter format this season in Swiney and Shelly Hoffman. The pair combined for 20 total assists, each collecting 10 on the night. Cooley’s five digs were a team-high, and Anderson led the way with two blocks.
Kelly Hoffman finished with five kills, and Chappell and Cooley each had three. Swiney’s four aces were just one better than Covington’s three.
“It’s an adjustment for the whole team,” Larsen explained of the two setters. “I’m hoping we can get things situated and run it more effectively. There are still a lot of things we need to work on.”
The Lady Raiders, along with all North Carolina high school athletes, coaches and team personnel, had to wear face masks during the match. For Cooley, the team’s vocal leader in the back row, it was a welcomed challenge to deal with.
“It was difficult for me as a quiet person, but I think I really came out of my shell tonight and was aggressive with my communication,” Cooley said. “The masks did not stop us from doing what we do and it was a fun game tonight.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The Lady Raiders (1-0, 1-0 SAC) will resume their conference-only schedule on Thursday when they travel to defending champion Pinecrest High School. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. following the JV match.
It will be a shot at redemption for Richmond, which fell just short of the Lady Patriots (1-0, 1-0 SAC) in the 2019 SAC tournament championship.
“We will learn from tonight and adjust some things at practice on Wednesday,” Larsen closed. “Hopefully the girls were able to get all their nerves out tonight and we can move forward and continue to be aggressive.”
