Lady Raiders losing streak extends to five games

The Rice Lady Raiders’ struggles continued this week as they dropped back-to-back district games to extend their losing streak to five games.

The Lady Raiders took on the Yoakum Bulldogs and the Edna Cowgirls this week where they dropped both game sin three sets.

@ Yoakum, L, 3-0, (2520, 25-15, 25-11) The Lady Raiders started their week on the road in Yoakum where they were looking to get back in the win column and get back in the hunt for a playoff spot.

The match started with the Lady Raiders playing within their identity making it difficult for Yoakum to hold a comfortable lead. They were in the mix to win the set until the very end until Yoakum pulled away late, but despite a five-point loss the Lady Raiders played well in the first set.

Coming into the second set much of the same was expected of the Lady Raiders but they came out flat. They did not have the same energy and excitement that they had in the first set and Yoakum continued to roll and picked up a 10-point win in set two.

In the third set the Lady Raiders looked flat yet again, it was such a drastic shift of emotions after dropping the first set and Yoakum kept coming after them. The third set was won by Yoakum by a score of 25-11 which frustrated the Lady Raiders because they know they are better than that.

They needed to bounce back and respond against Edna or their hopes of being in the mix for a playoff spot will dwindle drastically.

Vs. Edna, L, 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-17) In their second district game of the week the Lady Raiders welcomed in the Edna Cowboys to their home court in Altair, TX.

In a game where the Lady Raiders needed to come out firing on all cylinders with energy and excitement, you could hear a pin drop in the gym. The Lady Raiders again came out flat and looked like the complete opposite of the team that has been playing all season long.

They weren’t that same aggressive, in your face and confident team that has been dominating tournament play and the pre-district part of their schedule. Against teams like Edna that can be extremely dangerous.

Edna swept the Lady Raiders in three sets and the Lady Raiders did not hit 20 points in any of those sets. It was another frustrating loss during a stretch of frustrating losses, the Lady Raiders still have opportunities to get themselves back on track and it has to start with a big win in one of their two games this coming week.

The Lady Raiders will be taking on their Colorado County rival the Columbus Lady Cardinals on Monday, Oct. 7, where they will be trying to get back in the win column against a quality team.