ROCKINGHAM — The buzz from last Thursday’s regular-season finale sweep over Scotland High School is still at full charge as the Lady Raider volleyball team prepares for its postseason.
Richmond and head coach Ashleigh Larsen will look to put that energy to good use as the Lady Raiders begin the opening round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament on Monday. The first stage of the postseason ahead of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs, the SAC tournament will see the No. 3 Lady Raiders host No. 6 Purnell Swett High School.
Needing a win against Scotland to end the regular season, the Lady Raiders (17-5, 9-5 SAC) came out swinging in arguably their best performance of the season. Richmond swept the No. 2 Lady Fighting Scots to secure the third-place spot in the standings.
“The girls are still on level 100 from that win,” Larsen said. “The atmosphere of the gym, the win in three sets and the way they played all contributed to the win. I looked at them after the game and it really hadn’t him them yet.
“It was so awesome, especially having all of the seniors on the floor,” she added. “I know we’re ready for this week. Beating Scotland proved we can beat anyone in the conference, and a big win at the end of the season should get us ready for a big push into the playoffs.”
In its most current released rankings from Oct. 14, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has Richmond ranked No. 22 in the 4A playoff rankings. That number could improve following Richmond’s two-win week to close the regular season. Official playoff seedings and brackets are expected to be released on Thursday.
It goes without saying the Lady Raiders want nothing more than to win the SAC tournament, as they’re looking to return to the top spot for the first time since the 2017 season. Last year, Richmond was bounced in the first round of the SAC tournament, falling to Pinecrest High School in four sets.
Although they haven’t had much practice time to get ready for the Lady Rams on Monday, Larsen said it’s been business as usual for her team.
“We’re preparing like any other game,” she explained. “We need to play smart offensively and defensively. Purnell Swett had a big momentum change themselves when they beat Jack Britt (3-1 on Oct. 8).
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Larsen added. “Our conference is so strong and there’s really not a weak link. We need to swing big and be ready.”
During the regular season, Richmond, which is led by five seniors in Jasmine Ewing, Jadyn Johnson, Madison Jordan, Carley Lambeth and Layne Maultsby, defeated Purnell Swett both times the two teams met. On Aug. 29, the Lady Raiders won 3-1 at home, and later swept the Lady Rams on the road 3-0 on Sept. 26.
The SAC tournament seedings are as follows: No. 1 Pinecrest, No. 2 Scotland, No. 3 Richmond, No. 4 Jack Britt, No. 5 Lumberton, No. 6 Purnell Swett, No. 7 Seventy-First and No. 8 Hoke County. Should the Lady Raiders win, they will face the winner of the No. 2 Scotland and No. 7 Seventy-First meeting.
“It’s going to take us playing together and having that same intensity from the other night to win the whole thing,” Larsen closed. “If we use the Scotland win as motivation, and our home court supports us, anything is possible.”
First serve against the Lady Rams (5-17, 4-10 SAC) is set for 6 p.m. Monday at Richmond. Round two will be played Tuesday and the SAC tournament title match is set for Wednesday.
