ROCKINGHAM — It was the attack from the center for the Richmond Senior volleyball team.
Middle blockers Hunter Parks and Jennifer Steen helped rally the Raiders from a 2-1 deficit to knock off South Stanly 25-27, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20 and 15-5 Monday night at Raider Gymnasium.
Steen stepped up in Game 4 with Richmond trailing 16-12. The junior recorded a kill before rattling off aces on four of the next five serves to give the Raiders the lead for good at 18-16.
“I wanted to at least get it up to their score,” Steen said. “I just served it hard and tried to serve it to the outside.”
After Steen gave Richmond new life against South Stanly and forced a Game 5, Parks stepped to the forefront. Parks recorded five kills in the deciding game, including three straight to push the Raiders’ advantage to six at 9-3.
“Hunter is a strong player in the middle,” Richmond coach Shellie Wimpey said. “It’s hard for teams to control her when she’s playing well.”
The victory improves the Raiders to 4-3 on the season, the first time the team has been above the .500 mark this year.
“We’re still inconsistent,” Wimpey said. “It’s something we are going to have to work on all season since we are so young. I don’t mind going five games as long as we win.
“I think we have a talented team. If we keep improving I think we will start beating teams in three.”
The Raiders will return to the court at 5 p.m. today when they travel to Marlboro Academy. Richmond won the first meeting between the two schools in four games.
Raiders, Yellow Jackets battle to tie
MARSHVILLE — Goals from Josh Swails and Juan Onesto helped Richmond Senior tie Forest Hills in a nonconference clash Monday night.
Swails opened the game’s scoring with a blast from around 30 yards before Anesto added his goal later in the contest off a rebound.
The Yellow Jackets rallied in the final minutes with two goals to force a tie.
“We lost our composure,” Richmond coach Bennie Howard said. “On the second goal, we didn’t step to him and he blasted it into the back of the net.”
On Saturday, the Raiders cruised to a 4-2 victory over Union Pines. Jalen Almond, Brantley Paul, Tad Hamilton and Swails each recorded goals in the victory.
In the junior varsity contest, Richmond improved to 3-0 on the season with a 5-2 win over the Vikings. Jacob Suskie scored two goals, while Rogelio Reyes, Carlos Sedano and Austin Adams each had a tally.
The Raiders will travel to Overhills at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The junior varsity game is slated for 5:30 p.m.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com
Post a Comment
