ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Senior High School’s athletic programs wrapped up Week 1 of the 2019-20 school year on Friday with several successes, and many are set to open Sandhills Athletic Conference play during Week 2.
Lady Raider volleyball looking to build off hot start
The Richmond volleyball team and head coach Ashleigh Larsen started their season 2-0 last week with two non-conference wins over Anson and Montgomery Central high schools. Although the Lady Raiders had to overcome some adversity in both matches, they’ll look to stay undefeated this week with three home matches.
Richmond (2-0) will open play on Monday by hosting Montgomery Central (0-3) in the final match of the two-game season series. Last week, the Lady Raiders battled back twice to defeat the Lady Timberwolves. Junior varsity will start at 5 p.m., followed by varsity.
Tuesday’s match will see Lee County High School (1-1) make the trip to Rockingham. Another non-conference matchup, Richmond and the Lady Yellow Jackets are familiar foes, having played last season and scrimmaging this pre-season. The Lady Raiders will close the week on Thursday by hosting SAC opponent Purnell Swett High School (1-2). JV will begin at 5 p.m. both nights, followed by varsity.
Richmond soccer seeking first win of 2019
The Raider soccer team and head coach Chris Larsen were only able to get one of their two scheduled matches in during the opening week of play. Richmond opened the season with a 3-0 loss to East Mecklenburg High School last Tuesday, and saw its “Battle for the Bell” match rained out on Saturday.
This week, the Raiders (0-1) will have two more chances to enter the win column, both of which are non-conference games. Richmond will travel to Porter Ridge High School (1-1) on Wednesday, followed by a home match against Gray’s Creek High School (2-1) on Thursday. Junior varsity will begin at 5:15 p.m. both games, followed by varsity at 7 p.m.
Lady Raider tennis opens SAC play
Also impacted by last week’s wet weather, the Lady Raider tennis team and head coach Neely Herndon saw one of their two matches rained out. After opening the season Thursday with a 9-0 defeat to a strong Montgomery Central team, they’ll look to earn a win against Purnell Swett (0-1) at home on Tuesday in the SAC opener.
That match will be followed by another SAC contest on Thursday, also at home, against Pinecrest High School (2-0). Last season, the Lady Patriots won the SAC with a perfect 13-0 record. Both matches are set to get underway on Richmond’s tennis courts at 4 p.m.
Football returns in full force against Anson
The Raider varsity football team capped the first week of RSHS athletics with a dominant 48-2 win over Clayton High School on Friday. The win saw all three facets of the Raiders (1-0) combine to send the Comets packing, and this week, Richmond will revisit one of its oldest rivalries.
For the first time since 2016, Richmond will play the Anson Bearcats, and look to keep a 12-game winning streak alive dating back to 2004. Anson (0-1) saw its season opener pushed to Saturday due to rain, and lost to Monroe High School. The game will be played in Wadesboro with a 7:30 start time.
In junior varsity action, the Raiders and JV head coach Pat Hope will make their much anticipated season debut at home against Anson on Thursday. The JV Raiders haven’t lost a game in three seasons, and will look to win another SAC championship this fall. Hope and company will start at 6:30 p.m. A season preview will be published later this week.
Note: The Ninth Grade Academy football team’s game against Clayton, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been cancelled, per head coach Bryan Till.
