Jeff Moeller, sports correspondent

Deep into the regular season, Richmond Hill volleyball usually rises to the top. And this season, there is no exception. There is just a slight twist.

The Wildcats, who were four-time defending regional champions, will begin the postseason as the third seed behind Lowndes and Camden County. They did post an impressive 2-1 victory over Lowndes last week after they fell to them earlier in the month.

Last week we were able to take down the number one team in the region,” said Wildcats’ head coach Danielle Ennis. “We ended up tied for second in the region, but fell to third going head-to-head for the tie breaker.”

Richmond Hill began the week with an overall 23-8 record and had a 5-3 region slate.

Individually, Kailah King leads the team in blocks with 35, which is half the team total; Daisy Willis lead the team in assists with 305 and Mikalya Jimenez has 277; Raeden Sander leads the team in kills with 172 and Brielle Allred has 132; Alexa Anderson has a team-high 358 digs and Sander has 173.

Like she has seen in the past, Ennis is watching her team tighten its bond at the right time.

“I feel like we are finally starting to find our team chemistry, and that has been really encouraging to see,” noted Ennis. “We have had some wins that have shown us what this team is capable of and have given us glimpses of the mental toughness we need to be successful.”

The Wildcats will end the regular season Thursday on its Senior Night with matches against Brunswick and Calvary Day.

Ennis feels self-assured that her team can find an extra push for the postseason. The regional tournament will be at Camden County Oct. 4.

“At this point in the season, the biggest thing is that our girls have to dig deep and truly decide how badly they want it,” stated Ennis. “ If they are willing to compete, trust each other and fight for the win and ultimately the championship, I believe they are capable of getting there.

“We have the physical talent; it’s about making sure our mental toughness and consistency match that talent. When we can stay composed, trust our training and continue to battle through adversity, I think our physical abilities will really shine through.”