Riverheads sweeps Falcons

GREENVILLE — With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season the Riverheads Gladiators are cruising through their Shenandoah district schedule with ease. The Gladiators continued their undefeated mark in district play with a sweep over Central 25-17, 25-11, 25-16.

Riverheads coach Whitney Dove said her team is firing on all cylinders and is playing as a team right now.

“We are playing really consistent right now,” Dove said. “The team is playing together at a good time of the season.”

The Gladiators (10-3, 7-0 Shenandoah) played well all night and kept the momentum for most of the match. They held the lead and didn’t allow the Falcons to play their way back into the match.

In Game 1, Riverheads held onto the lead late after the Falcons were able to get close, but the Red Pride pulled away late for the win.

In Game 2, the Gladiators jumped out to a 9-1 lead after back-to-back aces from Katie Coffey. With the score 18-8 Taylor Blackwell-Kershner had three straight service points to help give her team the 21-8 advantage.

An ace from Coffey made the score 24-11 and on the next play the Gladiators ended the game with a 25-11 win and went into Game 3 looking for the sweep.

“We did a great job of staying up all night. We didn’t go on a roller coaster ride of up and downs,” Dove said. “We played a very well rounded match.”

The Red Pride did what has made them successful all year and that is jumping out to the lead early and holding it. Kayla Baugh had a big third game for the Gladiators including a Block and an ace late in Game 3 to lead them to victory.

“Our team is playing a lot stronger and better as the season has gone,” Baugh said. “I am still working on trying to get better on my kills and placing the ball.”

Baugh led the Gladiators with seven Blocks and also added 12 service points. Katie Coffey had a team high 17 service points and 11 digs. Kelsie Floyd, Tylar Burgdorf and Tiffany Flesher each had seven kills for the Red Pride.

The Gladiators will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to take on Stonewall Jackson in another Shenandoah district match.

Riverheads won the JV match 27-25, 25-14. Kelsey Campbell had 10 points to lead the Gladiators.