Riverside reigns in headiner at Geneva

After dropping the first game, Riverside was able to outlast host Geneva for a five-game nonconference victory. Nate Barnes was on the scene for the marathon as the youthful Beavers showed development.

Riverside’s volleyball program graduated a senior class overflowing with talent and leadership. As Olivia Maczuzak, Jen Durra, Kylie Osborn and others now play at the college level, the current Beavers work to develop a new core.

Coach Ali Schultz’s team still brims with talent, but remains inexperienced at the varsity level. She hopes to see her new rotation members couple confidence with their ability.

When host Geneva pushed Riverside to a fifth set Sept. 18, the Beavers’ response encouraged their coach. Riverside won the decisive game, 15-2, to defeat the Eagles, 3-2.

“We had to prove we were better,” junior libero Taylor Reigle said. “We know we’re a good team, and we know we can take care of business. We just had to step it up that last game.”

Geneva won the first set, 25-23, when Hope Stanley dropped a kill amid the Riverside defense. The Beavers led early in the second set and went ahead, 15-11, when setter Maddie Herman flipped a kill over the net on two. After Cassie Jordan’s kill gave Riverside a 21-16 lead, a powerful swing from sophomore middle blocker Jen Sivak down the line won the set, 25-20, and tied the match.

The Beavers remained in control through the third set, a 25-16 victory capped by Reigle’s ace. Riverside opened the fourth set on a 8-3 run before Geneva rebounded and forced a fifth game when Jordan Vencill’s kill gave the Eagles a 25-22 set victory.

Sivak took the ball at the service line early in the first set and recorded three aces during an 11-point service run. Kate Tracz sent match point over the net to conclude one of Riverside’s best sets of the season.

“I think it was definitely a big step for our team,” Sivak said. “We’ve been needing that energy all season and that last set, we were able to pull it together and get some energy.”

Sivak led the Beavers with 14 kills, Aubrey Low added 25 assists and Avery Tracz recorded 22 digs.

Riverside, the defending Division I Euclid District champion, improved to 9-3 and is 4-0 in Western Reserve Conference play. The Beavers next visit Madison for a league match Sept. 20.

The fifth set at Geneva could serve as an inflection point midway through Riverside’s season.

“We played controlled, but we played with a lot more confidence than I’ve seen us play,” Schultz said. “So, definitely the way we came back (was good). It might have gone to five, but to make that statement in the end was good.”

Geneva dropped to 10-4. The Eagles played the night prior, when they defeated Jefferson, 3-0.

Coach Annah Haeseler said she was proud of Geneva’s effort Sept. 18. Akin to Riverside, the Eagles replaced a senior class laden with talented leaders such as Lexi Hraga, Marley Goff and Julia Ball.

Vencill, Myla Rhodes, Becca Quirk and the team’s new core have surpassed their coach’s expectations so far.

“They’re a fun group and I think we’ve done better, at least, than I expected this year and I think it’s based off their attitude and their enthusiasm,” Haeseler said. “They love the game and they love each other.”