Vaughn, Vile, Donovan, Benson lead Luray to district win
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Oct. 6 — Luray’s top four volleyball players combined for 39 kills on Tuesday night in a 3-1 district win over visiting Strasburg. The Bulldogs move to 8-7 on the season and host undefeated Madison County at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Junior Lakin Vile lead the way with a dozen kills and two aces on the night, while junior Zoe Vaughn recorded 10 kills and one ace. Fellow juniors Emily Benson and Caroline Donovan posted nine and eight kills, respectively. Benson added an ace, while Donovan had a block.
Junior Sierra Forder, an unsung hero of the Bulldogs and one the area’s best setters, quietly went about setting up the majority of the 40-plus kills Luray recorded on the night. She also prompted “the Ace of Spades” to appear on the top row four times during the district match as a server.
The Rams battled hard in the first set despite an early 7-1 Luray lead. The score would be tied eight times, including five times fighting for the last five points. Back-to-back mistakes by the home team gave the first extended set to Strasburg, 26-24.
Luray rolled to relatively easy wins fueled by long runs during the next two sets, 25-13 and 25-14.
The third set was the most closely contested from start to finish. The score differential was never more than four points, and for most of the match the difference was two points or less. It was tied up seven times and featured seven lead changes. Luray took its final lead at 15-14 and extended its margin as much as six points before closing out the set and the match, 25-20.
Strasburg was lead by three seniors — Kelsey Clinedinst, Karaline Brill and Kenley Arnold — who all recorded three kills. Clinedinst added a block and an ace. Sophomore Mackenzie Wymer had a solid night with three blocks, an ace and one kill. Sophomore Ryleigh Copeland had one kill and two blocks.
With the win, the Bulldogs break a two-game losing streak and move to 8-7 overall. During their last meeting, Luray fell to Strasburg on the road, 2-3, on Sept. 10.
Only five matches remain in the regular season. After hosting undefeated Madison on Thursday, Luray will head to county-rival Page for a 7:15 p.m. match on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Everyone in the Bull Run District is chasing the Mountaineers, who have only lost three sets through 14 matches, with a 14-0 record.
Luray is currently ranked No. 4 in Region 1B.
Strasburg (4-11) will next travel to Madison County for a district matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
For more information on Luray High School Athletics,
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