Lady Warriors win region, volleyball playoffs begin

Riverside Lady Warriors volleyball clinched a region title for the first time since 2009.

For the first time since 2009, the Riverside Lady Warriors are volleyball region champs.

After sweeping Greer on Oct. 12, the Warriors clinched the Class 4A Region 2 title.

“I’m beyond excited for these girls,” said Riverside head coach Megan Jones. “They really deserve it. They’ve been through a lot of adversity this year. We had a really tough preseason and we were getting beat up on sometimes. I’m so proud of the way they fought through that adversity.”

Riverside finished region play with a 7-1 record, its only loss coming in a tight 3-2 matchup against Eastside last week.

The Warriors have earned the number-one overall seed for the Class 4-A upper-state playoffs. They’ll receive a bye this week before facing the Greenville and North Augusta winner on Oct. 24. That matchup will be at home.

“We’re happy to have won region, but we don’t feel like we’ve won anything yet. That wasn’t the end goal. We know it’s going to take a lot of resiliency and grit to get to state. So regardless of who we play, we’re ready for it. The girls are going to put their heads down and work hard for it.”

As for other area teams, both Eastside and Greer volleyball also clinched 4-A playoff spots. The Eagles and Jackets finished second and third in the region, respectively.

Eastside — the No. 6 upper-state seed — will begin the playoffs with a home matchup against No. 11 seed Northwestern.

Greer — earning the No. 10 seed — will travel to face No. 7 seed York.

All Class 4-A first-round playoff matchups will take place on Thursday, Oct. 19.

In Class 3-A, Blue Ridge clinched a No. 4 seed playoff spot and will travel to No. 1 seed Daniel on Thursday, Oct. 19.

In Class 5-A, the Byrnes Lady Rebels squeaked into the playoffs as well after finishing fourth in Region 2. They’ll begin the playoffs by traveling to face Nation Ford of Region 3, one of the top teams in the state. That matchup is on Wednesday, Oct. 18.