ROCKINGHAM — The day after the Lady Raiders celebrated their conference tournament championship victory, the volleyball brackets for the upcoming North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Playoffs were officially released.

Due to its flawless performance throughout the regular season, Richmond received a No. 2 seed in the West bracket and will have a first-round bye when the playoffs begin Saturday. It will host the winner of the No. 15 Lake Norman-No. 18 Hoke County matchup next Tuesday, Oct. 24.

“We played really well last night, but played even better tonight. We didn’t give up today,” head coach Shellie Wimpey said Wednesday night. “It’s nice to see that we’re still progressing. It’s just a really good feeling going into the playoffs.”

The Lady Raiders (25-0) have been on a tear this season.

They’ve won 75 of the 83 sets played, have only been taken to five sets once — at Union Pines on Sept. 6 — and have won in three sets 19 times. Their home win over Jack Britt three weeks ago set a new program record for most wins in a season (17), which now sits at 25 thanks to the recent sweep of the conference tournament.

Richmond isn’t satisfied just yet, though.

Its main goal coming into the season, aside from repeating as conference champions, was to make it past the second round of the state playoffs. The volleyball program hasn’t been able to do so during Wimpey’s tenure, but the first-round bye gives this year’s team time to rest before their playoff debut Tuesday evening.

“I’m expecting them to give it 100 percent, like they have every single game this season. They know it’s do-or-die time, and I think these girls really step in those sorts of situations,” Wimpey added.

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

Daily Journal file photo Junior outside hitter Savannah Lampley (12) will be one of the upperclassmen the Richmond volleyball team relies on during its state playoff run, which begins next Tuesday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_lampley-1.jpgDaily Journal file photo Junior outside hitter Savannah Lampley (12) will be one of the upperclassmen the Richmond volleyball team relies on during its state playoff run, which begins next Tuesday.

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

[email protected]