With a 3-1 win over rival Northwood in the district championship game, Riverside Middle School captured its first-ever volleyball championship on Oct. 11.
Riverside finished a historic 13-0 on the year — the first-ever undefeated Greenville County School District champions.
“I’m so proud of this team. These girls are top-notch students, top-notch athletes, and top-notch people,” said head coach Bill Patterson. “For the last two weeks of the season specifically, these girls played an exceptionally high level of volleyball.”
The team’s bond and tight-knit mentality, the players say, carried them through the season.
“Our team bond was really strong this year,” said defensive specialist Sulleigh Keith. “Everybody on our team had great communication, and our closeness was really strong, which made working as a team so much easier.”
“That’s what helped us the most this year, the bond we shared as a team,” said setter Emerson Suttles. “On and off the court, we always knew we could trust each other.”
“Even when someone made an error, we always lifted them up,” said Emily Lyles. “We were always positive and helped fix it, and that’s something I’d never seen before.”
Despite Lola Moran, one of the team’s top players, suffering an injury at the beginning of the season, the team never folded and rallied together all year long.
“When I got hurt at the beginning of the season, I didn’t see the first few of our games,” said Moran. “But even when I wasn’t able to play and just watched, I could just tell our team chemistry was great. And when it came down to the championship, I truly believed we could do it.”
“At the beginning of the year, when Lola got hurt, everyone else on the team stepped up and tried their best,” said Maren Crisp. “Even in our [semifinal] game against Beck, we were down by six points in the last set, but we never gave up. I think that says a lot about this team.”
Riverside had made the championship multiple times in recent years, but the Royals were yet to find that perfect finishing touch.
This year, it was different.
“We were always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” said Patterson with a laugh. “We’re finally the bride.”
After Bella Merchant earned the final point in the championship game against Northwood, the consensus among the players was the same.
It felt like they were dreaming.
“Truly, it didn't feel real,” said Natalie Ortiz-Torres. “It didn’t feel like we were actually in reality. It almost felt like we weren’t even there.”
“I felt full. All season, we had worked so hard to accomplish this goal,” said outside hitter Harper Williams. “When that moment hit and we finally achieved it, I felt fulfilled.”
Patterson praised the team’s mental ability and credited their “volleyball IQ” for powering them toward the program’s first championship.
“They understand the game at this age better than I’ve seen from anyone,” said Patterson. “It’s an incredibly high IQ for the game. They understand what works.
“We gameplanned for the tournament and the championship, and these girls just went out and did it. This is a special, talented group of ladies right here.”
Riverside Middle School volleyball roster
1 - Lola Moran
2 -Ava Ahmed
3 - Maren Crisp
6 - Riley Bigley
7 - Emmry Brock
8 - Harper Williams
9 - Emerson Suttles
10 - Bella Noriega
11 - Sulleigh Keith
12 - Myer Thompkins
15 - Zoey Ceasar
17 - Natalie Ortiz-Torres
20 - Sara Hazel Roberts
20 - Runo Igbeyi
22 - Bella Merchant
Managers: Emily Lyles, Jaliyah Thompson
Coaches: Bill Patterson, Anna Goettee
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