How an Augusta-area volleyball team is giving new meaning to sisterhood on the court

David Bradberry knew about the sisters several years before they arrived. Still, he didn’t realize how fortunate he was to have them until they showed up to play volleyball for Richmond Academy.

When the Musketeers take the court Thursday to open their 2022 season against Davidson, at some point, three different sets of sisters touched the floor. Senior Macon Jones and her freshman sister Berkely, junior Carolina Rivers and freshman sister Caitlyn and junior Mariana Victor and her sophomore sister Mya all suit up in ARC’s purple and gold with aspirations of taking Bradberry’s program to the next level.

“Since I started coaching at Richmond four years ago, parents were telling me about these sixth graders who were coming. The same when they were seventh graders. Then last year when they were eighth graders,” Bradberry said. “I saw when they started coming to our games. One player’s little sister, then another and another. It’s a pretty crazy and unique situation.”

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But it’s one that can help Richmond’s volleyball program take the next step. Because the younger siblings aren’t just tagging along to be with their older sisters. Each of them are legitimately good volleyball players.

Take for instance Carolina Rivers. The junior was recently named to the AAU All-Academic volleyball team. She’s competed for two different high-level club squads and played in the big AAU tournament in Orlando this past summer.

“She’s one of the best players around,” Bradberry said. “I’d put her up against anyone. But then here comes here sister Caitlyn as one of our incoming freshmen, and now I’m not sure which girl is better at age 14.”

There’s no sibling rivalry here, though. Carolina says she gets an extra jolt out of having her sister on the floor with her.

“This is my third year on the varsity team, and I am the most excited I’ve ever been for this upcoming season to be able to play with my sister at this level,” Carolina said. “She is a great player, and in practices she has pushed me to perform to my best ability.”

Macon Jones’ sentiment was similar as she discussed having Berkeley join her for her senior year.

“I was very excited when we found out my sister made the team,” said Jones, a senior who has been ARC’s starting, and only, setter since her sophomore season. “My sister and I have always been very close. She’s my best friend and the one person I trust the most, even if she drives me crazy. She’s a very strong and important player on our team, and we need her to have a winning season.”

The high-level ability seems to run in the family — both families.

Macon was recognized as a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-star last year after finishing sixth in Region 4-AAA and second on the team with 118 kills. Meanwhile, Carolina took home Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association all-state honors after registering 267 kills in 2021. That was good enough for ninth in the state.

Those four players give Bradberry a dynamic rotation that can make what was a solid 27-8 2021 squad even better. Part of that is because each girl on the Musketeers’ team — sister or not — strives to make the other better. But a little friendly competition between siblings does bring an extra energy to the team.

“We’re both very competitive players, but our positions on the team don’t compete,” Macon said. Her position helps me, and my position helps her. If she is on the back row, I know she’ll be able to dig up a ball for me to set another player. If she’s on the front row, I know I always have her as an option to set because she’s such a strong hitter.”

For Carolina and Caitlyn, their close-knit relationship on the volleyball court is a direct reflection of how they get along at home.

“We have a great relationship and friendship at home,” Carolina said. “She’s one of my best friends. On the court, we are very competitive against each other since we both play the same front and back row positions. This just encourages us to work hard and keep up with each other.”

The third set of sisters, Mariana and Mya Victor, are newer to the game of volleyball than their aforementioned teammates. But Bradberry says it didn’t take long for the other girls to warm up to them.

“Mariana came into our gym last year and played JV for us,” Bradberry said. “Now as a junior, she’s just a solid player that the other kids have just enjoyed playing with. And with Mya, thought’s never played before as a sophomore, she has some natural athleticism there.”

All three sets of sisters, plus three other girls from the team, had a chance to grow both as players and teammates by attending a summer camp at Emory University in Atlanta. During the summer ARC had the chance to test its mettle against some of the top teams in South Carolina, as well as those stalwart squads in Columbia County.

“We took a few lumps against those schools, but we dumped some out too,” Bradberry said. “Anytime we can play well against those teams is a good thing. They may look the part and pass the eyeball test, but we’re pretty and scrappy and we’re going to take the fight to them.”

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It’s the kind of preparation that should come in handy when Richmond starts Region 4-AAA play, especially when Morgan County shows up on the schedule.

Morgan County finished 29-15 last year with a 12-0 record in region play. Richmond Academy finished with a 10-2 region mark. Those two losses came at the hands of Morgan County.

“We’ve got to slay the dragon, and the dragon is Morgan County,” Bradberry said. “When they changed this region three years ago, our first year playing Morgan County, they just handed it to us. Last year at their place, they did it again. But when they came to our place, we actually took a set from them. So that’s our real goal, to try and beat them. Our girls have that mentality where they’re tired of being second place.

“Yes, they respect them. It’s a great program, but we’re gonna do our best to bring it to them. Beating Morgan County will get us to the next level.”

And Carolina believes this year’s team has the chops and mental toughness to do just that.

“The most special aspect of this team is our relationship with one another,” she said. “Sisters or not, all of our teammates are friends on and off the court. We all share a love for the sport and a desire to beat Morgan County and finish first in region.”

Macon wholeheartedly agreed.

“We definitely have enough talent to beat Morgan County and any other competitor,” Jones said. “It’s just going to take a lot of hard work, but we’re up for the challenge.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Richmond Academy volleyball hopes to get past Morgan County