Riverheads punched a return ticket to the state volleyball tournament tonight with a rather odd three-game sweep over the Altavista Lady Colonels, winning by scores of 25-15, 26-24, and 25-4. The Lady Gladiators will now host the Region B championship game Wednesday. I presume the opponent will be perennial contender Rappahannock County, as it was announced at our game that they had a 2-0 lead over Franklin at one point.
In this one, RHS never trailed in any of the three sets, not even the close one. In each case they scored the first four or five points to establish control, and only in the second set was Altavista able to rally and make a game of it. Even then the Colonels never took the lead but only managed ties at 11 and 24. So when Riverheads squeezed out that second set win, it is logical to assume that the Colonels were so emotionally drained that they just gave up, thereby explaining the runaway nature of the third set.
If the Gladiators win the regional final on Wednesday, they will host a state quarter-final on Saturday against the runner-up from Region A. If they lose on Wednesday, they will travel to the home of the Region A champ.
In this one, RHS never trailed in any of the three sets, not even the close one. In each case they scored the first four or five points to establish control, and only in the second set was Altavista able to rally and make a game of it. Even then the Colonels never took the lead but only managed ties at 11 and 24. So when Riverheads squeezed out that second set win, it is logical to assume that the Colonels were so emotionally drained that they just gave up, thereby explaining the runaway nature of the third set.
If the Gladiators win the regional final on Wednesday, they will host a state quarter-final on Saturday against the runner-up from Region A. If they lose on Wednesday, they will travel to the home of the Region A champ.
