(Oakland, IA) – Riverside swept the AHSTW Vikings in three sets as that is the third victory for the Bulldogs over the Vikings this season. The Bulldogs relied on one another down the line, helping to step up on every play and execute as a team.
The Bulldogs started off the first set relying on their play in the front row. Sophia Taylor made her name well-known to the crowd as she was the name of the set in set one. Taylor notched in seven kills overall while most of them came in the first set of action. The front-row blocking ability of Madison Kelley also helped push the Bulldogs in their 25-15 win in set one as she had two blocks in the first set while earning two more in the next two sets. Set two became the set of serving for Riverside. The Bulldogs relied heavily on the serving game of Elyssa Amdor, Bentley Rone, and Ely Henderson as they all combined for seven aces on the night, the majority of which came in the second set. Riverside ended up keeping AHSTW to just 8 points in the set, limiting their play in the serve-receive game.
Set three was a much closer set and that was not because AHSTW changed the course of the game, but rather because Riverside lost their momentum to push further. The Bulldogs led by as much as eight in set three, but allowed the Vikings back into the competition. With multiple missed serves, Riverside could not find a way out to end the set quickly. Two players who stepped up overall were Carly Henderson and Bentley Rone. Rone was able to keep consistent in her serves and also be the driving force on the outside. She ended up with 11 kills on the night while also earning two blocks in the match as Riverside won the third set 25-19.
Carly Henderson continued to be a big force in the digging game with 12 on the night while helping in the serving game by serving tough and deep. Henderson credits her consistency to her teammates and the practices that she has been working on to improve her serving game.
The libero also has started to take a leadership role after being put in a follower role for the last three seasons under Madison Baldwin. Henderson now sees the role that she has on the floor and realizes that it is her time to step up for Riverside from this point on to the end of the season.
Riverside also relied heavily on the play of Elyssa Amdor who earned six kills and two aces on the night while Ely Henderson sparked once again with eight kills and two aces on the night. Riverside will take on Lodan-Magnolia on Tuesday while AHSTW has a tournament this weekend at OABCIG High School.
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