Riverside opens 2026 girls volleyball season with familiar city slate

Overview

• Riverside went 5-8 in 2025-26 under head coach L'Toya Hooks.
• Senior outside hitter Brianna Cepeda returns alongside classmates Uwase Divine, Daniella Gikundiro, Ashley Kanku and Leticia Sadik, all with prior varsity experience.
• Riverside opens Sept. 14 against Burgard before visiting MEC/Bennett on Sept. 16 and Leonardo da Vinci on Sept. 18.

Riverside's 2026 girls volleyball season starts with a quick test at its own gym.

Riverside is scheduled to open Sept. 14 against Burgard, the first of 14 listed regular-season matches that carry the team through an Oct. 20 date at Performing Arts. The early stretch keeps Riverside busy, with trips to MEC/Bennett on Sept. 16 and Leonardo da Vinci on Sept. 18 before home dates against East Community on Sept. 22 and Research Laboratory on Sept. 24.

Head coach L'Toya Hooks has a roster with a clear senior presence. Brianna Cepeda, Uwase Divine, Daniella Gikundiro, Ashley Kanku and Leticia Sadik are all in the Class of 2027, while Amerald Zwe is in the Class of 2028 and Jayliana Catalan and Shariangeliz Lopez are in the Class of 2029.

Cepeda returns as an outside hitter. All eight players have prior varsity experience, giving Hooks continuity as Riverside works to improve on last season.

The schedule is built around repeat matchups. Riverside is set to see Burgard, MEC/Bennett, Leonardo da Vinci, East Community, Research Laboratory, MST and Performing Arts twice apiece. After the opener against Burgard, Riverside visits Burgard on Oct. 2. The team also hosts MEC/Bennett on Oct. 5, Leonardo da Vinci on Oct. 7, Research Laboratory on Oct. 13 and MST on Oct. 15 before finishing the listed slate at Performing Arts.

Riverside went 5-8 in 2025-26 under Hooks. The new season gives Riverside a chance to build from that foundation while leaning on an upper-class group that should have a large say in how quickly the team settles in.