The River Splits Season-Opening Tri-Match in New Port Richey

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL- The River officially opened the 2025 volleyball season on the road traveling to Pasco-Hernando State College for a Saturday tri-match on August 23. Indian River State College faced two FCSAA Division I opponents — Santa Fe College and Polk State College — leaving the weekend with a 1–1 record after a gritty showing.

The River's first test came against Santa Fe College. The opening set saw Indian River struggle to find rhythm early, as the Saints controlled the tempo with steady serving and clean side-outs. Santa Fe built multiple runs, and The River could never fully recover, dropping the set 16–25.

Set two was a different story. Indian River came out with better energy, taking an early lead behind aggressive serving and a stronger first-ball contact game. The River held a narrow cushion much of the way, forcing Santa Fe into long rallies. Late in the set, however, the Saints capitalized on a few miscues and pulled even. In a tense finish, The River had opportunities to close it out but couldn't convert, eventually falling 25–27.

The third set mirrored the second in drama. Santa Fe grabbed the early advantage, but Indian River clawed back point by point, tying the score multiple times and even jumping ahead late. Momentum swung back and forth in front of an energized crowd, but once again the Saints made just enough plays down the stretch, edging The River in another nail-biter, 25–27.

While the sweep went to Santa Fe, the competitiveness of the final two sets showed glimpses of the potential this River squad brings.

In the afternoon match, Indian River faced Polk State in what turned into an early-season thriller. The River found themselves down two sets after a heartbreaking 25–27 opener and a 20–25 second frame where the Eagles used a late run to steal momentum.

Refusing to back down, The River flipped the script in set three. Behind aggressive swings at the net and improved passing, Indian River jumped out to a lead and never looked back, closing with a confident 25–19 win. That energy carried straight into set four, where The River dictated play from start to finish. The offense flowed through multiple hitters, and the defense frustrated Polk's attempts to rally. The 25–16 win forced a decisive fifth set.

In the race to 15, The River continued to ride their wave of momentum. A couple of key digs and timely kills broke open a tight frame, and Indian River sealed the reverse sweep with a 15–11 victory. It was a statement win for the program — not just the first of the season, but one that showcased resilience, poise under pressure, and the ability to adjust.

The River exits opening weekend with a 1–1 record and plenty of positives to build on. Next up, Indian River returns home for a scrimmage against Warner JV on Monday, Aug. 25 at 6:30 PM, before traveling to Tampa to face Hillsborough Community College on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 6:00 PM.

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