ROCKINGHAM — Extending its season-long win streak to four matches, the junior varsity Lady Raider volleyball team swept its rival off the court Tuesday.
Back in action after four days off, Richmond didn’t lose a drop of its momentum as it defeated Scotland High School in straight sets, 2-0. Set scores were 25-14 and 25-21.
Head coach Melissa Dennis said that every player who was on the floor did what she needed to do to help the team win.
“Everybody stepped up this game, and each player on the court did their job,” Dennis said. “It always feels good to get a win, but a win against your rival is a little bit extra. To be able to put last year behind us and have this one was really big for our team.”
For most of the first set, Richmond held a lead between five and six points to set the tone early. Freshman libero Allie Rodgers had a back-row kill that gave Richmond an early 5-3 lead, and two kills from sophomore outside hitter Quston Leviner extended the lead to 11-5.
With the lead cut to just two points, a kill from freshman Katie Way sparked a 6-2 run by the home team to make it an 18-12 advantage. Way added another kill during the stretch and Leviner made a smart push on the ball at the net to find the open floor.
Freshman Jenna Gardner, who served 19 consecutive points in last week’s win over Seventy-First High School, helped serve a 6-0 run to clinch the opening stanza. Gardner had consecutive aces to make set point, and a Scotland hitting error ended the frame.
“It feels great,” Leviner said of sweeping Scotland. “I think this game and the three games prior really shows my team and I that we have the potential to beat any team in our conference this season.
“We lacked communication a little in the beginning, but we’re getting better and better each game.”
Dennis echoed Leviner, saying that the Lady Raiders’ ability to communicate and make adjustments during matches has fueled the team’s winning streak.
“The difference maker has been their communication,” Dennis explained. “They started the season still getting used to each other from different schools and they weren't sure how to work together.
“Now I can take a step back and listen to them work things out. And I can tell they all really want to be out there together and win.”
The second set saw Richmond erase three different three-point deficits, the first coming by way of Leviner and Way. Trailing 6-3, Leviner crushed home a kill and Way stepped up and served three consecutive aces.
Later in the set, an ace from Rodgers kept Richmond within a point, 12-11. A few plays later, with Richmond’s deficit at three points, sophomore Joy Styles served a 6-0 run to shift the set’s momentum.
Way had a push at the net in that span, and fellow freshman Kady Harris notched a point on an athletic dig that found the open floor.
Tied at 20 points, an ace from freshman Emma Altman and a bump into no-man’s land from the outside hitter, started a 5-1 run to earn the win.
Freshman Makailah Jackson knocked the ball to the back line to set up match point, and Way delivered an ace of the hands of a Scotland player to end the night.
“My team and I always talk each other up on the court and when timeouts are called,” Leviner said of keeping a strong mental game in check. “We know that if we all get quiet, our momentum will start to drop and then everything will go downhill from there. That’s why talking each other up is the best thing for us.”
Dennis said part of the team’s total effort in the win was the back row’s ability to not let balls get to the floor.
“The back row did a great job setting up our second passes tonight,” Dennis shared. “Their hard work allows Jenna and Joy to communicate who is getting to the second ball. All the girls played great tonight and it was a team win.”
Now 4-3 on the season, the JV Lady Raiders will host Purnell Swett High School on Thursday at 5 p.m. The game marks the start of the second round of Sandhills Athletic Conference play.
