RAEFORD - Less than a week ago, the Richmond Senior High School volleyball team was reeling on the heels of a three-game losing streak. But fast forward to Tuesday night, and the Lady Raiders were victors for the third time in four days.
On the road at Hoke County High School, which is home to the last-place Lady Bucks, head coach Ashleigh Larsen’s team made quick work by winning in straight sets. It was the second time during the current winning streak that Richmond (10-7, 7-4 SAC) has held its opponent off the scoreboard, with other being Saturday’s home win against Purnell Swett High School.
Sets scores were 25-15, 25-15 and 25-7 in favor of the Lady Raiders. The three-set win was Richmond’s sixth victory of the season that saw the ladies in green and gold keep their opponent scoreless.
As the regular season winds down, Larsen emphasized to her team the imperativeness of winning the remaining Sandhills Athletic Conference games. Currently, Richmond is locked in the third-place slot in the standings, one game ahead of Scotland High School. Hoke rounds out the bottom of the eight-team conference, as the Lady Bucks (0-14, 0-9 SAC) have yet to win a game.
“Despite Hoke’s record, they’re a quality team,” Larsen noted Tuesday. “It seems like they have the same issue we do of not being able to get out of holes during sets. The first and second sets were back and forth, and we were finally able to pull away in the third set.”
Larsen explained that it wasn’t until about the 10-point mark that her team was able to extend its lead substantially in the first and second sets. The Lady Raiders’ best set statistically was the first, as four players combined for 10 kills, with senior Savannah Lampley, junior Jadyn Johnson and sophomore Georgia Grace Anderson all drilling three kills.
The first set also saw Richmond’s best dig total with 21, with junior libero Layne Maultsby picking up nine of her 11 total digs in the opening frame. Lampley, an outside hitter, led the team on the night with 13 digs, recording five of them in the 25-15 win.
The final score of the second bout mirrored the first, as the Lady Raiders’ stat numbers were also similar. Richmond knocked home seven kills and dug up 18 balls. Lampley’s best defensive set was the second with her seven digs, and junior setter Carley Lambeth served up both of her aces on the night.
Up 2-0, the Lady Raider offense took care of business in the final set despite the numbers being significantly lower on the stat sheet. This time around, Richmond only notched five kills and eight digs.
Lampley and Anderson led the team with six kills on the night, with Johnson adding four and junior Madison Jordan totaling three more. The 24 combined digs between Lampley and Maultsby were assisted by Johnson’s eight and four each from Jordan and Lambeth. The Lady Raiders also racked up six blocks in the match, two in each set, with Johnson and senior middle hitter Savannah Chappell collecting two apiece.
“It was a good all-around effort by everybody tonight,” Larsen commented. “Carley was all over the floor on defense and saved our butts a couple of times because it’s so tough to play with a low ceiling like Hoke’s gym has. I was pleased with how everyone played on offense and defense.
“It definitely feels good to be back on the other side of things by winning three straight games,” she concluded. “The girls are playing more aggressively, and that’s needed toward the end of season. The last couple of games are very important because that momentum will carry us into the conference playoffs.”
The Lady Raiders will get a much deserved night off Wednesday before being back on their home court Thursday to square off against fifth-place Lumberton High School (7-3, 3-3 SAC). First serve is set for 6 p.m.
