The Riverside Bulldogs volleyball team is dominating the schedule with hopes at making a run at states. Through 18 games the Bulldogs are ranked number two in class 1A 17-1 with their only loss coming from a tough ACGC team. Riverside is also dominating in the statistics. Riverside players are ranked in the top five in eleven statistical categories. Head coach Brooke Flathers says their dedication and teamwork make this group special.

Defensively, Riverside ranks fifth in the Western Iowa Conference in digs and leads the conference with 101 total blocks. Individually Madison Kelley is tied for first in the conference with 24 while Lilli Reed and Bently Rone are right behind, ranking third and fourth.  Flathers says that being a solid blocking squad is a whole team effort.

As far as the offense is concerned, Riverside knows how to put points on the board. The WIC kill leaderboard features three Bulldogs led by Elly Henderson, who ranks second in Kills and first in kill efficiency. In the service department, it is no different. Ayla Richardson, Rone, and Sophia Fenner all rank in the top eight in aces, with Richarson leading the conference with 32. They have also been extremely efficient, with Fenner, Henderson, and Ashley Kelley ranked in the top 3 in service efficiency. Flathers credits not only her team’s depth but their volleyball IQ for their offensive success.

The Bulldogs have put themselves in a phenomenal spot with just over a month to go in the regular season. Flathers knows that in order to get where they want to be, they will need to continue to have that next game-up mentality.

The Bulldogs will travel to Audubon to take on the 5-7 Wheelers on Thursday with the match set for 7:30 pm.