ROCKINGHAM - The Richmond Senior High School varsity volleyball team was in a similar spot Monday in its non-conference match against Union Pines High School.
Facing a 2-0 deficit against the Lady Vikings, it was the second time in three matches to start the season that the Lady Raiders had faced a win-or-go-home scenario. Last week in the season opener, Richmond battled back against Uwharrie Charter Academy to win the final three sets and send the Lady Eagles home with a loss.
But that wasn’t the case Monday, as Richmond was swept in straight sets for the first time since Sept. 21, 2016, when it lost 3-0 to Lee County High School. The loss also marked the Lady Raiders’ first defeat of the season, and it snapped a 30-match regular season winning streak dating back to the same match against Lee County.
In Monday’s action, the Lady Vikings made quick work of the Lady Raiders (2-1), as the home team fell in set scores of 13-25, 18-25 and 19-25.
Over the past two seasons, Union Pines (3-0, 3A Tri-County Conference) has been one of Richmond’s toughest opponents. Last season, save for a five-set playoff loss to Lake Norman High School in the second round, Richmond’s regular season contest against the Lady Vikings was the only other time it went the full five sets. In that match, the Lady Raiders prevailed as 3-2 victors.
“The girls defeated themselves tonight,” head coach Ashleigh Larsen said following the match. “We had a lot of miscommunications and we need to work on hitting around blocks and making better decisions on hit selections.”
As a team, Richmond only collected 18 kills on the night, a team season-low. The Lady Raiders also had six aces in the loss.
Larsen’s team will have two more chances this week to redeem itself, as they’ll travel to Uwharrie Charter Academy Wednesday, and wrap up the week by opening Sandhills Athletic Conference play on the road at Purnell Swett High School.
A win Wednesday would secure a season sweep of the Lady Eagles. Richmond also hasn’t lost to the Lady Rams since 2013, having defeated them in eight straight matches. Five of those matches have come as straight-set victories for Richmond. Both varsity matches should begin around 6 p.m. following the junior varsity matches.
“We need to gain our confidence back,” Larsen said of what will get Richmond back in the win column. “And we need to be prepared for a tough match Wednesday (against Uwharrie Charter Academy).”
Note: The Richmond junior varsity team won its match in straight sets over Union Pines Monday, as it improved to 3-0 on the year.
