Lady Raiders open with two wins

South Ripley volleyball is 2-0 to start the year and dominated Austin on Tuesday in its home opener.

South Ripley volleyball kicked off the Jessi Sell era this week in victorious fashion, delivering its new head coach a pair of wins against Class 2A Sectional 45 foes.

Jessi (McConnell) Sell is a 2004 graduate of South Ripley and is in her first season after replacing previous head coach Lisa Gilpin. The Lady Raiders were a 3-1 winner at Switzerland County on Monday night and came back to beat Austin 3-0 on Tuesday in the home opener.

After falling 25-20 in set one on Monday, the Lady Raiders tied the match after a 25-23 set two win over Switzerland County and finished the night with wins of 25-10 and 25-4. Claire Samples delivered with 11 kills, nine digs and a block in the season opener and Kaylie Effing added 15 kills and four digs.

Megan Bascom made her first varsity start and delivered with eight aces served and Gracie Sturgeon put up eight kills.

The green and white had no issues on Tuesday, blitzing Austin by straight-set scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-17. Samples had nine kills and two aces, Bascom totaled five kills and Evelyn Kelly tallied three aces served and a 100 percent clip from the serving line.

South Ripley (2-0) is at Jac-Cen-Del on Friday night for a rivalry matchup.