Rebels take silver title in Cokeville

The Riverside Rebels showed their potential at a tournament last weekend in Cokeville, improving every time they stepped onto the court and walking away with the Silver bracket championship.
Coach Cindi Smith said her team “came into the season with a lot of fire, drive and focus.”
As returning all-staters, Vinaya VanderPloeg and Brooklyn Paxton are the team leaders. “They stepped onto the court ready to be a force this year,” said Smith.
Kennedy Bassett, the setter, “is a determined athlete who brings a strong competitive nature to the court,” according to Smith, while Varissa Olsen and Johnna Clifford “have shown a tremendous amount of growth and dominance in the middle from a year ago.”
Rounding out the varsity core, Josie Long and Brinley Longshore are returning defensive specialists who will help in the backrow and there are several underclassmen who are stepping up as well.
The team had a tough first day in Cokeville, losing to Preston, Idaho, by scores of 25-27, 14-25, 19-25; Evanston, 19-25, 14-25, 22-25, and West Side, Idaho, 19-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-20, 10-15.  Preston would go on to place second in the Gold bracket.
The Lady Rebels regrouped on Saturday, winning both of their contests in the Silver bracket.  The girls defeated Rich, Utah, in four: 25-17, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18, and followed that up by prevailing in four-set thriller against West Side:  25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23.  At one point in that fourth set, the Rebels trailed 4-12.
Coach Smith credited the turnaround to improved serve-receive and better decision making.
“We pulled together and supported each other throughout the weekend,” she said. “This was a key to our success.”
As a team, Riverside connected on 86 percent of its serves, with Longshore at 97% and Clifford at 96% leading the way.
Bassett and VanderPloeg led in aces with nine and six, respectively.
Bassett also led in assists with 147.
Paxton was credited with the most digs, 67, and kills, 90.  VanderPloeg was right behind with 51 and 55, respectively.