The Riverside Volleyball team is one step closer to a return trip to the State Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated the Missouri Valley Lady Red in straight sets to advance to Wednesday’s regional final against Aplington-Parkersburg. Riverside won set one handily 25-12 finished off by a Madison Kelley kill that lands in the middle of the Missouri Valley side of the floor. In the second set, Riverside clawed back after trailing almost the entire set and being down by as many as eight. Riverside used the energy from the second set comeback to jump out to a 12-5 start in the third set, but Missouri Valley wouldn’t go away cutting the Bulldog lead to one late. In the end, a Lilli Reed service ace secured the 38th win of the year for Riverside.

The Bulldogs and Lady Reds squared off for a third time this season, and Missouri Valley had arguably been the toughest test so far for the Bulldogs so far. In the first set, Riverside grabbed the lead and never looked back after the 3-3 tie. Sophomore Vivian Gross highlighted the set with her defense and the ability to pick up three kills early. In the middle of the first, Riverside went on a 6-0 run to take the 11-9 lead into a 16-9 lead forcing a Missouri Valley timeout. Towards the end of the set, Missouri Valley had trouble returning serves allowing Riverside to run away with the 25-12 first set victory.

A much better start for Missouri Valley in the second. Both teams exchange punches early as the set was tied 5-5 early. The duo of Khloee Stoops and Dilynn Myler led the charge giving the Lady Reds the advantage for a majority of the second set. With Riverside playing from behind, it forced Bulldog Head Coach Brooke Flathers to burn both timeouts in the set. After the second timeout, the score was 16-10 Missouri Valley. The Bulldogs were able to spark momentum after the brief timeout and storm back with a few powerful kills mixed with service aces as well. All of a sudden it was a one-point Missouri Valley lead as they used their first timeout at 20-19. The momentum didn’t shift after the break, and the Bulldogs capped off the set with a Madison Kelley kill.

Riverside used the momentum that closed out the second set to fire up a hot start in the third. The Bulldogs quickly led 3-0 and never gave up the lead despite the resilience from the Lady Reds winning the third set 25-21. The 38-0 Bulldogs were led by seven Sydney Somers kills to go with six kills from both Vivian Gross and Arabella Singleton.

Bulldog Head Coach Brooke Flathers was satisfied with the way her team competed against Missouri Valley for a third time this season.

The team never backed down despite trailing a majority of the second set.

Flathers believes the dramatic second set win carried emotion into the third.

Riverside meets Aplington-Parkersburg for a state qualifying match Wednesday night in Van Meter. You can catch all the action on KJAN with pregame at 6:50 P.M. and first serve at 7 P.M.