ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Observer is proud to bring back its spotlight series on local student-athletes for the 2025-26 school year at Richmond Senior High School.
The first student-athlete to be recognized for her efforts on the volleyball court is junior middle hitter Riley McDonald.
A force to be reckoned with at the net, both offensively and defensively, McDonald was a big part of the Lady Raiders’ perfect start to Mid-South Conference play last week.
Earning her second career recognition, McDonald is celebrating her first since her freshman season.
Athletic Profile: Riley McDonald
Year: Junior
Fall sport: Volleyball
Position: Middle Hitter
Varsity experience: 3 Seasons
Junior middle hitter Riley McDonald makes a kill during the second set of Richmond’s 3-2 victory over Jack Britt High School last week.
“CLASSROOM CREDITS” WITH RILEY McDONALD
A student of the game of volleyball, McDonald is also a hard-hitter when it comes to her studies in the classroom.
With a month of her junior year now in the books, McDonald has proven to be able to balance a heavy course load that includes high school and college classes. Using Richmond’s dual enrollment program to her benefit, she’s taking two classes at Richmond Community College in addition to her classes at the high school.
During her first block period, McDonald is enrolled in English 111 and Spanish 111 at RichmondCC. She’s also taking Civic Literacy Honors, English III and Drafting II at Richmond.
Through the first four weeks of school, McDonald has passing scores in all of her classes, including As in Civic Literacy and Drafting II. At the start of the semester, McDonald had a 3.98 weighted grade point average.
“DIALED IN” WITH RILEY McDONALD
Opening Mid-South Conference play last week on the road at Pine Forest High School and at home against Jack Britt High School, Richmond started its conference slate with a pair of wins.
McDonald, who has continued to expand her role as the team’s primary middle hitter, was a force at the net in both victories. The Lady Raiders defeated Pine Forest 3-1 and held off a late comeback attempt by Jack Britt to earn a 3-2 win.
In the victory over the Lady Trojans to begin MSC action, McDonald played all four sets and recorded a team-high 19 kills. Averaging 4.8 kills per set, McDonald had a kill percentage of .500 and dished out four aces from the service line.
Also a defensive helper along the net and in the back row, McDonald blocked two shots and had one dig.
Two nights later, the Lady Raiders took a 2-0 lead over Jack Britt and battled late to win the decisive fifth set. Again a menace at the net, McDonald drilled home 21 kills, two shy of her single-match recorded earlier this season against Scotland High School.
That marked her seventh double-digit kill performance through the team’s 11 matches to that point in the season. She added one ace, three digs and collected five total blocks, which was a season-high and three shy of tying her personal best in a match in her career.
The Lady Raiders (8-4, 2-1 MSC) host Overhills High School (2-7, 0-3 MSC) Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
“RAPID RESPONSE” VIDEO WITH RILEY McDONALD
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week soon.
