ROCKINGHAM — In its last non-conference match of the regular season, the Richmond volleyball team served its way to another win in just three sets — something that has become a habit during this year’s unprecedented run.

The Lady Raiders had arguably their best serving performance against West Montgomery on Wednesday, as they tallied 15 aces and only three serving errors in the 3-0 victory. Seniors Altman Griffin and Mackenzie Webb finished with six aces each.

“We’ve been working a lot more on serving and them making their own decisions. Not necessarily me calling it…but them using their brains and figuring things out,” head coach Shellie Wimpey said. “I think that makes better players when they can adjust on the court without the coach having to yell every split second.”

Griffin, a middle hitter, picked up three of her six aces in the first two sets but her efforts in the third led to the Lady Raiders’ best win on the night. The senior started behind the serving line and helped the home team race out to a 9-0 lead.

She finished with three aces, three digs and two kills in the final set, which Richmond won 25-11.

“I’ve been missing a lot of serves in the last few games, so I’ve been trying to cut that down a lot. I’m just trying to see the court, where I can hit (the ball) and work on it as much as I can,” Griffin said.

Webb, a setter, won all 13 of her points in the last two sets. She was the last Lady Raider behind the line in the second — scoring five consecutive points to close the set — and she sparked a 4-0 run after Griffin’s impressive start in the third.

“I actually just learned how to jump serve this year, so it’s kind of been a work in progress. But I’ve been working a lot on it,” Webb explained.

Richmond (19-0, 11-0 SAC) got three kills from junior outside hitter Savannah Lampley early in the first set, but found itself trailing by two points after a few offensive and defensive mistakes. The Lady Raiders would eventually get themselves together and cruise in the latter part of the set.

Sophomore right-side hitter Allexis Swiney won four points as the team’s server, to give it an eight-point lead, and then senior middle hitter Brianna Baysek recorded a block in order to give the home team its 25th point.

The Lady Raiders won both the first and second sets by a score of 25-16.

To go along with their six aces, Griffin recorded 13 kills and seven digs and Webb added 25 assists and five digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Layne Maultsby (11 digs) and senior middle hitter Owen Bowers (three blocks) led the team’s defensive effort. Lampley had the second most kills in the win (six).

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.

Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond’s Mackenzie Webb (5) sets the ball for senior outside hitter Altman Griffin (13) during the second set of the Lady Raiders’ three-set win over West Montgomery on Wednesday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_webb.jpgLeon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond’s Mackenzie Webb (5) sets the ball for senior outside hitter Altman Griffin (13) during the second set of the Lady Raiders’ three-set win over West Montgomery on Wednesday.

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

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