Riverheads sweeps Gap

GREENVILLE — Shenandoah District rivals Buffalo Gap and Riverheads squared off on the volleyball court Tuesday night, but more importantly the two teams joined hands together and took the fight to breast cancer in a match that benefited the Susan G. Komen Foundation. While both teams collaboratively raised awareness and support in the battle against breast cancer, the Gladiators came away victorious, staying perfect in the district with a three-game sweep over the Bison 25-17, 25-16, 25-19.

As the Gladiators used a balanced attack to take down a young Buffalo Gap team comprised of six sophomores and two juniors, both coaches were pleased with the fundraiser that had greater implications than any volleyball match ever could.

“It feels good to me and to the girls to be able to give back to the community and to the Susan G. Komen Foundation,” Riverheads coach Whitney Dove said. “Hopefully this will catch on with other schools in the area.”

Buffalo Gap coach Kacey Bunch was also glad her team could participate in the fundraiser. “It is a great thing to be a part of and our girls were really glad to do this with the girls they knew from Riverheads,” she said.

As for the match itself, Riverheads opened Game 1 with eight unanswered points from Kelsie Floyd to take an early lead, but the Bison would respond as middle hitter Natalie Smith kept her team close with two kills and two blocks to draw within three at 13-10. Riverheads would pull away as Katie Coffey and Kayla Baugh combined for four kills and two blocks to close the game.

Game 2 saw the teams trade the lead back and forth to an 8-8 tie before Riverheads went on a 12-4 run to pull away via some impressive defensive work from Taylor Blackwell-Kershner and the big hitting of Coffey to take a 2-0 lead.

Riverheads stumbled in the opening parts of the third game to fall behind 10-7 as the Bison capitalized on various hitting errors. That Gap lead would not last, however, as the Gladiators would rally courtesy of two Blackwell-Kershner aces sandwiched around two Tiffany Flesher kills. That momentum would continue as Riverheads closed the match with six-straight points to earn the sweep.

Riverheads was led by Kelsie Floyd with 15 points, while Blackwell-Kershner had 16 digs and Katie Coffey had a team-high seven kills. Shannon Kiser led Gap with nine service points and Natalie Smith led the Bison with five blocks and five kills.

Riverheads also swept the JV match 25-7, 25-16. Carly Casto led the team with 15 service points.