ROCKINGHAM — Even though it didn’t clinch them a spot in the playoffs, the victory inched them closer to locking down a berth.
The Richmond Senior volleyball team avenged an earlier loss to Lumberton with a 25-22, 21-25, 25-13, 25-18 win Thursday night at Raider Gymnasium. With the victory, the Raiders are fourth in the Southeastern Conference by themselves with a 3-5 record. The Pirates, which were upset by Hoke County Tuesday, fell to 2-6 in league play.
Currently, Richmond would earn the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and more than likely a spot in the state playoffs with contests against Pinecrest and Scotland remaining on the schedule. However, if Lumberton were to win one of its contests next week with Scotland or Purnell Swett and finish in a tie with Richmond, then the Pirates would earn the fourth seed because of the tiebreaker of defeating a higher seed.
If that were to occur, the first round tournament contest between the two schools would determine the final automatic berth into the state playoffs.
After Thursday’s contest, Richmond coach Shellie Wimpey was surprised to hear her team had put itself in position to possibly return to the postseason after missing out last year.
“I didn’t know they lost to Hoke and this means we are in fourth,” Wimpey said. “That’s a good thing because last year they were fifth and this year we are fourth. It takes time to build a program but we are heading in the right direction.”
Wimpey added she was happy to see her team come out with more fire and passion then it did Tuesday in a four-set loss to Purnell Swett.
“We had more focus tonight and it really showed,” Wimpey said. “I think they were more relaxed too. Everyone did a good job and played well tonight.”
The Raiders will return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday when the Patriots visit Raider Gymnasium on Senior Night.
Scotland blanks Richmond in finale
LAURINBURG — The Scotland girls tennis team closed out the regular season slate with a 9-0 victory over Richmond Senior Thursday afternoon.
The Fighting Scots lost a total of nine games in the singles matches. Charlotte Laurent downed Caroline Kirkland at No. 1, 6-0, 6-1, Munroe Blue defeated Katy Shelley 6-0, 6-0, while Leslie Floyd stopped Abbi Carpenter 6-2, 6-0. Sallie Wegner cruised past Haleigh Denham 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth singles contest. Kaylan Ellis knocked off Summer Jacobs 6-1, 6-0, while Hannah Cox beat Peyton Hunt 6-1, 6-1.
In doubles, Scotland won all three matches by a score of 8-2. At No. 1, Laurent and Ellis combined to beat Kirkland and Shelley. Buie and Cox defeated Carpenter and Denham, while Morgan Haywood and Shialisa Salters stopped the team of Jacobs and Hunt.
The Raiders will return to the courts Tuesday in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Pinehurst.
Raiders roll past Rams in JV football
ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior junior varsity football team posted its fifth shutout of the season in a 69-0 rout of Purnell Swett Thursday night at Raider Stadium.
The Raiders led 40-0 at halftime before adding two more touchdowns in the opening minutes of the second half on a kickoff return and an interception return.
“We’re going good right now,” JV coach Jason Norton said. “We have to keep pushing hard each week because if we let up one time, a team can creep up on you.”
Richmond will return to the gridiron at 7 p.m. Thursday at Raider Stadium when Lumberton comes to town.
Three net goals in Richmond’s JV soccer win
ROCKINGHAM — In the junior varsity soccer match Wednesday night, Richmond Senior defeated Hoke County 3-0. Scoring goals for the Raiders were Bryce Dixon, Ryan Watkins and Rogelio Reyes, while Carlos Sedano had an assist.
The Raiders will return to action at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against Lumberton at Raider Stadium.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com.
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