Both the Richmond Senior boys soccer and volleyball teams dominated their season-opening matches Tuesday evening.
Owen Bowers, Altman Griffin and Mackenzie Webb helped the Lady Raiders to a three-set win (25-14, 25-7, 25-21) over South Stanly, while four Raiders scored a goal each in the boys’ 4-0 victory over St. Pauls.
Tuesday’s win was the first time since 2012 that the volleyball team had defeated South Stanly. Richmond had lost to the Lady Bulls in five sets for the past three seasons.
“I think the jamboree (at Lee County) Saturday really prepared us to play as a team. We hit the ball hard tonight and served really well,” volleyball head coach Shellie Wimpey said. “Owen played great up front, Altman adjusted really well hitting balls that were not set perfectly and Mackenzie did a great job serving. We still need to block more, but hopefully we’ll do better with that against teams that are more consistent when hitting.”
Bowers and Griffin would finish the match with eight kills a piece, while Webb had 28 assists and 10 aces on the night. Wimpey also commented on the play of Jadyn Johnson and Alexis Swiney, saying the two sophomores “really stepped up” in their role on the right side.
The Lady Raiders will be back in action Thursday when they travel to West Montgomery.
“It feels great to open up the season with a win,” Wimpey added.
Head coach Bennie Howard and the boys soccer team got off to a great start in the early going, as sophomore midfielder Noah Jordan scored a goal inside the first minute of play. Jonathan Tadlock, a senior striker, would slip one past the opposing goalkeeper a little later in order to give Richmond a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
”The things that we didn’t do in the scrimmage last Thursday, and the things that we worked on in practice, they took to the field tonight — and that’s what made us succesful,” Howard said. “I didn’t see any individualism.”
Within the first seven minutes of the second half, Carlos Alcocer scored his first goal of the season after racing down the right side of the field and ripping a shot past the goalie’s head. Victor Lucero would take advantage of a St. Pauls handball inside the box in the 61st minute by converting a penalty kick.
The game came to a stop soon after, however, once lightning struck nearby. Officials and both coaches got together after seeing the lightning hit multiple times and ultimately decided to call the game.
He and the Raiders will hope for better weather when they host Forest Hills on Thursday.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Howard added.
NOTE: The junior varsity boys soccer team also dominated its game at St. Pauls, grabbing a 9-0 mercy rule victory in nearly 60 minutes of play. Head coach Chris Larsen was pleased with the way his team “knocked the ball around and put the ball in the back of the net” during Tuesday’s season opener, according to Howard.
Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.
The Richmond Senior volleyball team defeated South Stanly 3-0 in its season opener Tuesday evening. Owen Bowers, pictured above, finished the night with eight kills.