The Richmond Senior High School Lady Raider Volleyball Team may have found its footing at just the right time having won two of its last three games as Sandhills Athletic Conference play gets underway.

Last Monday’s 3-1 victory over Montgomery Central seemed just what the Lady Raiders needed as they looked to rebound from a blowout loss to Uwharrie Charter. After dominating the first set 25-20, the Lady Raiders fell in the second 25-23, but rebounded for a pair of blowout victories 25-20 and 25-19 to take the match. Kaylan Parsons and J’Nasia Neal tied for the team lead in kills with 12 each while Kenley Smith had a team-leading 6 aces, followed by Riley McDonald and Kalynn McCormick, who had 4 aces each.

Defensively, Neal finished the night with a team-leading 17 digs, followed by setter Ava Edmondson’s 12 and Smith’s 11. At the net, McDonald and Leiana Brooks served as Richmond’s twin towers with the pair combining for 11 blocks.

Following last Monday’s victory, the Lady Raiders kept their momentum rolling in the SAC opener against rival Southern Lee the following day, sweeping the Lady Cavaliers 25-20, 30-28 and 25-14. McDonald had a team-leading 11 kills followed by Neal with 8 and Brooks with 7. McCormick had a team-leading 3 aces, followed by Edmondson and Madisen Jackson, who each had 2. Defensively, Smith had a team-leading 16 digs, followed by Edmondson and Neal with 12 each. Jackson represented the Lady Raiders only stat holding in blocking after rejecting six shots.

Following a pair of dominating performances, the Lady Raiders could not keep their momentum going against Pincrest, who handily defeated Richmond 25-15, 25-14 and 25-20. McDonald had a team-leading 7 kills, followed by Brooks with 3. Edmondson registered a pair of aces to lead the Lady raiders while Jackson had a team-leading 7 digs, followed by closely by Edmondson and Neal with 5 each. Jackson also tied for the team lead in blocking with Brooks with both ladies registering a pair each.

With the loss, the Lady Raiders fall to 5-3, but have a slate of conference opponents on the schedule this week. They open the week Tuesday with a 6 p.m. Home game against the Hoke County Lady Cardinals, then remain in Rockingham to host the Union Pines Lady Vikings before heading on the road Tuesday in an attempt to avenge their blowout loss at the hands of Uwharrie Charter. First serve for each game is scheduled for 6 p.m.