ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School athletics department is coming off one of its most successful weeks so far this fall, and fans can expect more exciting play from Raider and Lady Raider players in Week 5.
This week will see five of the six fall varsity programs in action, as the Raider football team gets the week off in between its non-conference and conference schedules.
Lady Raider volleyball aiming to distance themselves in SAC standings
Winning eight of their first nine matches this fall, the Lady Raiders will get three more chances to add victories in the win column this week. After going 3-0 last week, including wins over Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents Hoke County and Lumberton high schools, Richmond will also face two more SAC squads in the coming days.
Currently in an early-season four-way tie for first place with Pinecrest, Jack Britt and Lumberton high schools, the Lady Raiders (8-1, 3-1 SAC) will open at home on Tuesday against Seventy-First High School (2-4, 2-2 SAC). Richmond will look to build on a current five-game winning streak against the Lady Falcons.
Wednesday will see the Uwharrie Charter Academy Lady Eagles (6-3) visit Rockingham for a non-conference match, and Richmond’s biggest test of the week will conclude on Thursday at Scotland (5-5, 3-1 SAC). The Lady Raiders have won their previous nine matches against the Lady Scots. All matches are set for a 6 p.m. start following the junior varsity matches.
Raider soccer looking to build off solid Week 4
After a tough start to their season, the Raiders picked up a big SAC win against Jack Britt last week on the road for their first victory of the fall. Head coach Chris Larsen’s team will be back in action three more times this week, with two key SAC matchups.
Richmond (1-4-1, 1-1 SAC) will begin play Monday at Hoke County, and face a tough Bucks team that is currently 7-1 and a perfect 3-0 in conference play. Wednesday’s match will see Lumberton (4-3, 1-1) come to town in a battle between two squads currently in a four-way tie for second place in the standings.
The Raiders will cap the week Thursday on the road at non-conference Terry Sanford High School (3-3-1). That match will be played at Tokay Park in Fayetteville near Reid Ross High School. All three games are set for a 7 p.m. start time.
Lady Raider tennis still searching for first win
On the tennis court, the Lady Raiders (0-5, 0-4 SAC) are still searching for their first win of the season, but are coming off their best performance of the season. Richmond managed to earn three wins in its 3-6 loss to Scotland last Thursday, winning a singles match and two doubles matches.
Head coach Neely Herndon’s team will start its second round of SAC play, beginning at Purnell Swett High School (4-3, 4-1 SAC) on Tuesday. Wednesday’s match will be at Pinecrest High School (6-2, 4-0 SAC) and Richmond will close the week at home against Jack Britt (3-1, 3-1 SAC). All matches will begin at 4 p.m.
Cross country teams return to Lumberton, Lady Raider golf visits Gates Four
The Lady Raider cross country team opened its season with a first-place finish at Luther Britt Park last week with six runners finishing in the top 10. Head coach Jessica Covington’s team will look to do it again, as Richmond will run the same course, but against Lumberton, Pinecrest and Seventy-First. Senior Airel Brown will look to build off a second-place finish with a time of 22:40.
Also in action will be Reggie Miller’s Raider cross country team, which will face the same three teams. Richmond took third place in last week’s opener. Led by junior Carson Jordan (fifth place, 20:06), the Raiders will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Lady Raider golf team will hit the course for the second time this fall, competing at Gates Four Golf and Country Club in Fayetteville on Tuesday. Richmond took fourth place in the season-opening match at Pinehurst No. 5 last week behind a team-best round score of 91 (+19) from senior Hailey Miller.
Golfers are set to tee off at Gates Four starting at 2 p.m.
Varsity, junior varsity football on bye week; Freshman Raiders visit Pinecrest
The No. 1 Raider varsity football team took care of business and looked like the top-ranked team in the East with a 45-28 win over No. 3 Cardinal Gibbons on Friday. Head coach Bryan Till’s team will be rewarded with an off week after going 4-0 in non-conference play for the first time in Till’s three years.
Preceding the varsity team’s win was the junior varsity team’s matchup at home against the Crusaders. Head coach Patrick Hope’s squad saw its 30-game winning streak come to an end, allowing two fourth-quarter scores to fall to the Crusaders 21-20 for its first loss in over three seasons.
Both teams will use the next two weeks to focus on opening SAC play against Purnell Swett High School. JV (1-1) will travel to play the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 26 (6:30 p.m.) and the varsity team (4-0) will play host on Friday, Sept. 27 (7:30 p.m.).
Richmond’s freshman football team, now 2-0 after defeating Cardinal Gibbons for the second-straight week, will be the only football team in action during Week 5. The Raiders will travel to SAC opponent Pinecrest on Thursday with kickoff set for 4 p.m.
Follow ROSports on Twitter at @ROSports_ for live updates, scores and stories throughout the week.
