Down 2 Sets to 1, Riverdale Battles Back to Defeat Drew

On Monday, the Riverdale Lady Raiders played host to rival, the Charles Drew Lady Titans. In the first set of the match-up, the Lady Raiders jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they rolled to a 25-13 win, taking the first set. In Drew was off to a quick start, going up by as many as 4, but Riverdale battled back to tie the set at 24 a piece and eventually taking a one point lead. However the Lady Raiders lead would only last momentarily as Drew regained the lead and won the set 27-25. Drew would take the momentum off their second set victory and steam roll their way through the third set as they jumped out to an early 9-4 lead. The Lady Raiders appeared to be out of gas as they were not able to put together any offense and their defense seemed to have no answers to the Titans defense, as Drew went on to win the set 25-15. It was in the fourth set when Riverdale, led by #13 Runeshia Williams and #8 Thalia Gayten, looked to be back on track as they went up 4-1 early.

Drew managed to get a little offense going and quickly tying the set at 4 and eventually finding themselves up 16-12 but their lead would not last long as Riverdale's defense put together a series of stops allowing the Lady Raiders to regain the lead 19-16. Riverdale would go on to win the fourth set 25-19 forcing the tie breaker fifth set. In the fifth set,

Drew was once again off to the quick start jumping out to a 7-3 lead over Riverdale, but the Lady Raiders defense was able to halt the Titan's offense, allowing their own offense to go to work taking a 9-7 lead. A lead in which Riverdale never relinquished as they went on to win the fifth and final set by a score of 25-19 to win the match-up 3-2. Riverdale will face Griffin and Starr's Mill on Tuesday while Drew will be off until their match-up against Creekside on October 4.