ROCKINGHAM — Getting an early start Wednesday, the Richmond Senior High School volleyball program filled the gym with a lot of energy.
One of the school’s first athletic programs to get their new season underway, the Lady Raiders held their first of three days of tryouts.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association officially opened scholastic athletics Wednesday, kickstarting the 2024-25 sports school year.
More than 40 student-athletes participated in Richmond’s initial tryout, vying for spots on varsity or junior varsity. The session was led by seventh-year head coach Ashleigh Larsen and junior varsity head coach Melissa Dennis.
Players started the day with warmups before moving onto footwork and agility drills. Much of the first tryout then focused on hitting and passing drills, along with other fundamentals.
Tryouts will resume Thursday and Friday, with the final rosters being posted for the varsity and junior varsity teams the final day. Varsity will have a practice beginning at 10 a.m. Friday.
Following tryouts, the Lady Raiders will play in a preseason jamboree at Sandhills Community College Saturday, the same one they competed in last year. Admission is $2 per person or a donation of canned goods.
The Richmond Observer will publish a season preview, complete with a schedule and video interviews, in the coming weeks.
Below are photos of Wednesday’s volleyball tryout, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
