ROCKINGHAM – For the second night in a row, the Richmond Senior High School Lady Raiders varsity volleyball team played flawless.
And now they’re a perfect 19-0 on the season.
Richmond hosted non-conference opponent West Montgomery High School, defeating the Lady Warriors in straight sets 25-16, 25-15 and 25-11.
Getting progressively better throughout the match, the Lady Raiders knocked off West Montgomery (12-5) for the second time this season. Richmond beat them August 17, 3-0.
For the fourteenth time this season, head coach Shellie Wimpey’s team held its opponent off the scoreboard. The Lady Raiders also defeated Hoke County High School 3-0 Tuesday night.
As the quest to finish the season a perfect 22-0 continued, the Lady Raiders (19-0) got within three games Wednesday behind solid serving and sound passes and sets.
In the third game, Richmond tallied seven total aces, the most in any set of the match. Senior outside hitter Altman Griffin and senior setter Mackenzie Webb each served up three, while junior middle hitter Savannah Chappell collected one.
In the previous two games, Richmond served up four aces in each. Griffin and Webb both finished the night with an impressive six aces apiece.
“Not much else to say other than we played really well tonight,” Wimpey said. “We served well all match, and Altman and Mackenzie did a great job getting six aces each.”
Richmond racked up 25 kills on the night, with Griffin stealing the second game and driving home a game-high eight kills. She finished the night with a team-high 13 kills.
Junior outside hitter Savannah Lampley picked up six kills, while senior middle hitter Brianna Baysek added four of her own. Defensively, the Lady Raiders outmatched West Montgomery, digging the ball 43 times.
Sophomore defensive specialist Layne Maultsby had 13 digs, and was accompanied by Griffin (7), Lampley (7) and Webb (5).
The junior varsity team also won, coming back after dropping the first set. The Lady Raiders won 25-27, 25-14 and 15-13.
The defensive unit played really well to get Richmond back in the match. Between freshmen Taylor Chappell, Emy Cooley and sophomores Carley Lambeth and Madison Jordan, the Lady Raiders racked up 41 digs.
Lambeth had a team-high six aces, while freshman Georgia Grace Anderson added four more.
“The girls seemed sluggish at the start again tonight,” head coach Ashleigh Larsen. “We couldn’t get anything rolling early. And I hope we see some improvement before (tomorrow’s) match. We’re still searching for that offensive drive; but our defense has played great.”
The Lady Raiders will wrap up their week Thursday on the road at Lumberton. Junior varsity begins at 5 p.m., followed by varsity at 6 p.m.
