Riverheads volleyball over Altavista
- Thread starter knowhen
- Start date
In my Monday night post, I called for an uptake in the crowd tonight and we certainly got it as a spirited student section got into the game and even some adults, including a volleyball dad, helped out with the cheerleading. All that support must have helped as the Big Red turned back a determined effort from visiting Altavista, winning 25-10, 25-23, 25-22. The Gladiators will now host Middlesex on Saturday in the state quarterfinals.
In tonight's first set, the Gladiators never trailed and raced to a victory that was just as easy as that score sounds. But kudos to the Altavista coach, who settled her team down quite effectively and gave the Big Red all they could handle in the final two sets.
The second set had to be the most demoralizing for the visitors because they led for about 85% of it. They jumped out to an early lead and although RHS tied the score repeatedly (one fan said it was tied ten times during the set), the Colonels would always find a way to creep back on top. Finally the Gladiators took their first lead of the set at 23-22, and after the teams exchanged points, RHS squeezed out the minimum two-point win.
Set number three was just as exciting but in that one, it was more a matter of exchanging scoring surges. First Riverheads jumped out to a 7-1 lead and threatened to make it another runaway. But Altavista caught a second wind and stormed ahead 15-11. RHS coach Stapleton used her first timeout to settle her troops and it worked as they scored four points in a row to forge a 15-15 tie.
Altavista matched that four-point swing with one of its own to grab a 19-15 lead, cueing timeout number two from Riverheads. Again the Gladiators responded and tied the score at 19. Altavista took one last lead at 20-19 before Riverheads salted away the set and match with a strong 6-2 finishing rally.
Both teams will advance to state play on Saturday, but Altavista will have to travel to play the Region A champion. (I have not researched yet who that might be.) I think the bracket is structured in such a fashion that it is entirely possible that Riverheads and Altavista could meet again next Tuesday in the state semi-finals if both were to win Saturday, but don't quote me on that.
Whatever the case, the goal for all eight remaining teams in Class 1-A is to make it to the Salem Civic Center, where the state final is definitely set for 4:00 on Friday afternoon the 16th. Stay tuned to see if either of these deserving Region B representatives makes it to that final match.
In tonight's first set, the Gladiators never trailed and raced to a victory that was just as easy as that score sounds. But kudos to the Altavista coach, who settled her team down quite effectively and gave the Big Red all they could handle in the final two sets.
The second set had to be the most demoralizing for the visitors because they led for about 85% of it. They jumped out to an early lead and although RHS tied the score repeatedly (one fan said it was tied ten times during the set), the Colonels would always find a way to creep back on top. Finally the Gladiators took their first lead of the set at 23-22, and after the teams exchanged points, RHS squeezed out the minimum two-point win.
Set number three was just as exciting but in that one, it was more a matter of exchanging scoring surges. First Riverheads jumped out to a 7-1 lead and threatened to make it another runaway. But Altavista caught a second wind and stormed ahead 15-11. RHS coach Stapleton used her first timeout to settle her troops and it worked as they scored four points in a row to forge a 15-15 tie.
Altavista matched that four-point swing with one of its own to grab a 19-15 lead, cueing timeout number two from Riverheads. Again the Gladiators responded and tied the score at 19. Altavista took one last lead at 20-19 before Riverheads salted away the set and match with a strong 6-2 finishing rally.
Both teams will advance to state play on Saturday, but Altavista will have to travel to play the Region A champion. (I have not researched yet who that might be.) I think the bracket is structured in such a fashion that it is entirely possible that Riverheads and Altavista could meet again next Tuesday in the state semi-finals if both were to win Saturday, but don't quote me on that.
Whatever the case, the goal for all eight remaining teams in Class 1-A is to make it to the Salem Civic Center, where the state final is definitely set for 4:00 on Friday afternoon the 16th. Stay tuned to see if either of these deserving Region B representatives makes it to that final match.
According to a release just sent out by the Riverheads AD, Saturday's quarter-final will be at 1:00 instead of the 6:00 start we have been having. For a college football fan like me, that is great news! I had already been belly-aching to anyone who would listen about the fact that JMU kicks off at 2:00, UVa at 3:00, and Virginia Tech/Pittsburgh at 3:30. Therefore I had been worried that I might have to leave those games in order to make a 6:00 volleyball match in Greenville. But now it will be a much easier task to set the DVR and catch up to those games when I get home. My remote is just like an old Timex........it just keeps on clicking!!!!
And by the way, both the UVa and VT games will be of special interest for Riverheads fans who might be tempted to divide their loyalties. For Liberty's visit to Charlottesville, keep a watch out for LU's co-captain David King, who is an RHS grad; and then as mentioned earlier this week in a special press release, Mike Herndon will play his final home game for Pitt, and although I assume we will not see this part on TV, he will be escorted by Riverheads Head Coach Rob Casto and his wife, who have remained important figures in his life.
And by the way, both the UVa and VT games will be of special interest for Riverheads fans who might be tempted to divide their loyalties. For Liberty's visit to Charlottesville, keep a watch out for LU's co-captain David King, who is an RHS grad; and then as mentioned earlier this week in a special press release, Mike Herndon will play his final home game for Pitt, and although I assume we will not see this part on TV, he will be escorted by Riverheads Head Coach Rob Casto and his wife, who have remained important figures in his life.
@longtimerhsfan you truly live up to your screen name Riverheads is very lucky to have a devoted fan such as you. As are the folks here on the forum. Thank You.
Thanks I needed that. I have had a lousy day today and your post is about the only thing that has gone right.
