Gap gets a boost

Thursday night it was volleyball and the emotional rollercoaster could make any amusement park jealous. At the end of the ride though the Bison snuck in the sweep 25-22, 25-20, 25-15, and reaped the confidence boost they need to finish out

the season

"They came in pumped up and ready to play," said Bison coach Sara Botkin. "They wanted this win bad, and this is a good win for us. It's anybody's ball game when you play Riverheads."

The young Gladiators came into the match looking for a battle and hoped that some of their inconsistencies would repair themselves, but it wasn't to be. At times the Big Red could do no wrong, digging out of deepest holes, but the moments of clarity only lasted for a few fleeting moments.

"We didn't play a bad game, we just played a inconsistent game," said Riverheads coach Gretchen Schindler. "At times we hit well, sometimes we didn't hit well. We passed fairly well, it wasn't the greatest ever but it worked."

The Gladiators mounted eight unanswered points, rising from a 16-13 deficit to take a four-point lead in Game 2. The Riverheads gym soon was quiet when Gap answered back, shutting down the Gladiators at 20 and scoring eight points of their own to win the game.

Now that high school volleyball uses the rally point system, it is rare for a team to go on an eight point scoring tirade.

"We had the same girls [in]," Botkin said. "They did an awesome job coming back, they actually did a better job than what we have been doing."

The Bison combo attack from Alison Wilkins in the air and Courtney Sanderson at the net kept the Gladiators back for most of the night. Wilkins recorded 15 kills in the Bison win.

"We've been working really hard these past few weeks of practice just trying to get our hearts in it," Wilkins said. "When we get scored on we get really down, so we've been working on that."

By Game 3 the Gladiators were spent, controlling the game for just two points after Gap's hitters couldn't keep the ball on the court. Gap only allowed Riverheads to score 15 points in the final game.

Still early in the Shenandoah season the Bison's win meant more to the team's confidence than its record, especially since the win came at the Gladiators' house. Gap can't get too comfortable though, they will have to play a vengeful Riverheads again on Oct. 23 in Swoope.

"I'm looking forward to playing them again," Wilkins said. "They are such a good rival."

Riverheads (5-9, 1-2 Shenandoah) will be back on the court Tuseday hosting Page County. Gap (7-7, 2-2 Shenandoah) will also be at home, taking on Luray. Both games start at 6 p.m.