Fall Sports Recap: River Bluff Volleyball Earns State Runners-Up in Epic Championship Battle

An amazing season for River Bluff's volleyball team culminated in a state championship match that proved both magnificent and heartbreaking for the Gators.

After cruising through Region IV-AAAAA, having dropped just one single set and earning the region crown, River Bluff plowed through the Lower State playoffs, knocking off the top-seeded Wando Warriors in convincing fashion, and setting up a highly anticipated match against the Upstate's powerhouse Dorman Cavaliers.

Dorman was the clear favorite, coming into the match with a 29-6 overall record. The Cavaliers were also undefeated in region play and ranked third in the state in all classifications by MaxPreps.

The first set established the tone for the match, and fans knew quickly that they were in for a treat. The entire match see-sawed from opening serve to match point. An incredibly high level of skill, athleticism, and pure grit was on full display as point after point developed through breathtaking volleys interspersed with pinpoint accurate serving aces and thunderous spikes. It was indeed high school volleyball at its best.

River Bluff won the first set 28-26. Dorman took the second set 25-23.

Then, in the only segment of the match in which one team dominated the other, the Gators quickly dispatched the Cavaliers 25-13 to give River Bluff the third set and a 2-1 lead.

Dorman bounced back in the fourth to sneak by 25-21, setting up a final set for the crown. The Gators jumped out to an early lead. During a rally in which River Bluff came away with a hard-fought point, however, Gator libero Meghan Tucker went down with an injury.

Looking back at that moment, River Bluff head coach Bryan Piro said, "It's certainly not ideal, and for a starter, let alone your libero to go down in the 5th set of a state championship match, it does change the dynamic a bit; however, I felt we were able to handle that moment pretty well."

Despite recovering from losing an integral part of the team, River Bluff relinquished the lead.

Then, with Dorman up 13-11, River Bluff was called for a net violation when a Gator's shoulder lightly brushed the net away from the play as they set a return and a spike, which would have made the score 13-12. Instead, the point went to Dorman, giving the Cavaliers match point at 14-11. Three points later, Dorman scored to give the Cavaliers the win 15-13 and the championship.

The contest was what one truly hopes for in a championship. Clichéd as it might be to say, it seemed a shame either team had to lose such an intense and well-played match.

After the match, Coach Piro said, "My heart breaks for these seniors who deserved to have a state championship. I told them that life doesn't always give you what you deserve, and we need to use these moments to help shape and drive our future." He went on to say that he "couldn't be more proud of how hard they have fought [all season]." Piro has built an elite program at River Bluff, but he will give credit to the players who have come through the program. "River Bluff volleyball is known across the state as one of the top programs, and it's because of these players year in and year out who pour out so much to have sustained success. On to the next season...next one, best one!"