Rappahannock Raiders defeat Rapp Co in 5th set! To face Riverheads in State Final 4

[uvacavs1]

Rappahannock High School’s Lady Raiders made school history today as they won a state playoff volleyball game for the 1st time!

The Raiders defeated Region B’s Rappahannock County in a nail biter 3-2. The Raiders were down 2-1 and won the next two sets to advance. Rapp started the 4th set with an 8-0 run to change momentum.

It was announced that Riverheads will be traveling to Rappahannock (Warsaw) this Tuesday. Have not heard the Riverheads over Middlesex score.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Riverheads swept Middlesex with scores of 25-13, 25-11, and 25-16. Game time announced as 7p with a possibility of it shifting forward to 6p.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Sorry to be late with the Riverheads report (too much football and basketball on the tube!) but the Lady Gladiators had a much easier time of it today than I expected. As you can tell from the scores posted above, they were never seriously in danger in any of the sets. I would say they held the lead about 95% of the time today, including from start to finish in the second set.

Middlesex, which did bring the boisterous crowd I remembered from last year, got off to a good start in the opening set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead, but RHS went on a 9 point run to grab an 11-6 lead and coasted from there. In the second set, the score was tied briefly at 1-1 but it was all Riverheads after that.

The third set was more competitive as the score might indicate. It was tied at each of the first four digits before RHS strung together three points in a row to seize control. But the Lady Chargers hung around and with the score at 20-16, we were treated to one of the longest and most entertaining volleys we have seen in a long time. Neither team wanted to give up the point and each crowd cheered louder and louder with each dig or save. Riverheads finally earned the point to move ahead 21-16 and then scored the final four points to win.

Gladiator fans were of course hoping for Rappahannock County in the other quarter-final as that would have meant another home game for the Big Red. But you can bet the Red Pride Nation will show up Tuesday night in Warsaw and make the most of the experience. Don't be surprised if they bring back the victory and move on to Salem.

 

[uvacavs1]

Riverheads (22-3) at Rappahannock (24-3) in Warsaw this Tuesday - State Semis.

It appears that the State Final Four game start time will be at 6 pm.

This will be Rappahannock’s 1st time playing in the State Final Four in Volleyball! I am pretty sure that the traditional NND has never won States in Volleyball and rarely have come close as Mathews and Rapp Co have dominated for years (Rapp Co was in Region A for awhile.)

Raider Coach Patterson seems to be building a powerhouse as she started 3 Freshman (out of 6 players, the other 3 are Seniors) in their big 1st state playoff win yesterday v Rapp Co.

Thank goodness the Raiders are at home as Riverheads goes to the State Final 4 in basically every sport every year. Gotta give the Riverheads culture it’s props, they do a lot of winning.

Riverheads would appear to be the fav even away as they only lost to powerhouse 3A schools with a combined record of 40-6! It looks like they travel well in all sports! Safe travels.

Let’s hope the Raider and NND fans show up and are ready for the battle v the monster Riverheads machine. Go Raiders! Make more history!

Both teams are red! No one can defeat the Big Red Riverheads machine in football, so can it be done in Volleyball? Should be a wild one....

 

[uvacavs1]

On the other side of the State bracket is two undefeated teams from the West.

Region C Champion Auburn (23-0) is at Region D Champion Patrick Henry - Glade Springs (22-0)

 

[NNDman]

Actually PH-GS is 31-1 and Auburn is 29-2. Auburn gave PH-GS its only loss thus far.

 

[uvacavs1]

Actually PH-GS is 31-1 and Auburn is 29-2. Auburn gave PH-GS its only loss thus far.

Thanks, dang, impressive.

Someone needs to update their pages on VHSL lol.

Also, I looked briefly for the past Class A Girls Volleyball State Champions. I did not find them and may have just missed it. They used to be in the VHSL handbook for Football and Soccer etc.

If anyone knows the past several Volleyball champions and maybe co-champs, please post. I am sure that some wonderful Mathews people know!

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Sounds like the right four teams made it to the Final Four. To answer the above question I am fairly new to volleyball but I know that Patrick Henry beat Riverheads in straight sets last year to win the Class 1 title.

 

[uvacavs1]

Riverheads defeated Rappahannock 3-0.

Congrats to Riverheads. They have a great squad with excellent chemistry and skill work. No matter how well the Raiders played, Riverheads rarely made mistakes. You can tell they had a lot of experience playing together. Good luck to them.

Rappahannock had a heck of a run! Won the Region for only the 2nd time, won 24 games (school record), and won a state playoff game for the 1st time ever and was one game away from the State title game. Nice crowd on hand including many folks who support other Neck schools like NHS.

Great job to the Raider seniors! Rappahannock returns many strong players ready to make another run next year and beyond.