With a more than successful team last season, Riverside is looking to come and compete at the top of their game. Last year, the Bulldogs went 33-6 overall and won the Class 1A Regional Championship game against Gehlen Catholic. Coach Flathers knows that her team’s success is based on their team culture and taking things just one step at a time.
Riverside lost their two best hitters last season due to graduation. Veronica Andrusyshyn led the team in kills last season with 338 while hitting .219 overall and averaged 3.3 kills per set. Their second-best hitter, Mack Olmstead-Mitchell, was second on the team in kills with 246 and was an important aspect of the Bulldog offense. Coach Flathers is looking for a few players to step up this season including Elyssa Amdor who was fourth on the team in kills with 144 and had a 92% serving percentage. Carly Henderson was one of the Bulldogs’ keys in their defensive game. She had 251 digs last season and 32 serving aces. Sophia Taylor is another piece to fill the puzzle as she had a 92% serving percentage and was third on the team in kills with 150. This team has some quality talent to fill those previous roles.
Serving has been beyond successful for the Bulldogs. Riverside has maintained a 92% serving percentage for the team during the season. With practice comes success, and the serving efficiency of this team is due to the way that they have practiced this offseason.
Riverside doesn’t have much to improve on this year, but there is always something to get better on regardless of your record. Offensively and defensively, the Bulldogs are looking to stay on the persistent side so they can take advantage of every opportunity given to them on the court.
With an upcoming scrimmage against Clarinda, Riverside is taking a different approach. Rather than focusing on what the other team is going to do on the floor, they are focusing fully on what they will be doing on their side of the floor.
The Bulldogs will start their regular season on August 26th at AHSTW in a tournament starting at 8:00 am.
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