Bump.  Set.  Spike.  Those three words, in that order, make up the play that gets a volleyball to the other side of a net.  Twenty-one hours a week, the Randall varsity volleyball team practices, sweats, and carries out those three words.

            Holding the achievement of being ranked second in the state of Texas, this season the Lady Raider varsity volleyball team has been on a winning streak since their second game, losing only to Amarillo High at their first game in August.

            The head volleyball coach, Jason Culpepper said that he feels good about the season so far.

            “The girls are working hard,” Culpepper said.  “We’re having some success.”

            Culpepper said that Hereford and Canyon are the biggest games that they play, and that Hereford’s volleyball team, against whom Randall took the win on September 22 in all three games (29-27, 25-18, and 25-15), is the one that the Raiders are most competitive with.

            “The feeling [when Randall won] was absolutely amazing,” sophomore Madalyn Pepper said.  “It made it even better when [Hereford] brought out such a huge crowd and we totally shut them up.”

            Culpepper said that the players that are proving to be the most effective are the seniors, like Ashley Davis and Aubree Piper, who combined for seventeen kills against Clovis in the September 29 match.  Sophomore Madalyn Pepper said that she looks up to Aubree Piper for her mental focus.

            “She has been on varsity since her freshman year,” Pepper said.  “So she’s someone you know you can go to for anything because she has the experience.”

            With the Raiders’ standing at No. 2 in the state, Madalyn said that they always try to work as a team, rather than individuals, which makes the team successful.

            “We go into every game wanting to kick someone’s butt,” Pepper said.  “And we’re taking each game as a step to making it to state.”

            When it comes to what Culpepper wants the team to improve upon by the end of the season, he said that they could always work on passing and defense.  Madalyn Pepper added that she wanted to keep playing hard in practice and games.

            “I want to work on getting my feet around,” Pepper said.  “And I also want to be able to pass a 2.3 at each game.”

            While the stress mounts and the competition heats up, Pepper said being on the team has its advantages.

            “The best part about being on varsity is going through the intense games and getting to play a role in winning for your team,” Pepper said.  “And even better, representing a win for Randall volleyball.”