Vile once again leads Luray and overall match with 13 kills
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Oct. 14 — After sweeping Page County, 3-0, on their home court on Sept. 18, Luray would need an extra set on Tuesday night to overcome the scrappy Panthers, 3-1. This week’s Bull Run District volleyball matchup between the two county rivals also served as a “pink” game bringing attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The Bulldogs donned pink uniforms, while the Panthers wore black uniforms with pink lettering.
LHS sophomore Lexi Vile posted a match-high 13 kills on the night. Luray was also lead by its standout senior Reese Fitton, who recorded 11 kills, five blocks and two aces. Sophomore Caroline Donovan had five kills, six aces and two blocks, while fellow sophomores Emily Benson and Makenna Keyser both knocked down three kills.
Aces were a theme of the night for the Bulldogs — and not just the ace of spades on Papa Forder’s big card in the top row, or the chant A-C-E-whaaat (at least I think that’s what they say). In addition to Donovan’s six aces and Fitton’s two, sophomore Zoe Vaughn had four, junior Chloe Gochenour posted three and sophomore Sierra Forder added two.
Despite only earning three wins this season, the Page County Panthers are a much scrappier and better volleyball team than their record might indicate. They were lead by two of the more athletic players in the district, senior Addyson Wyant and junior Adi Caton. Wyant had five kills, two aces and a block; while Caton added three kills, an ace and a block. Junior Lindsay Babb, sophomore Peyton Bradley and sophomore Kierston Foster all recorded a kill, while sophomore Addison Kelly added an ace.
Page County came out strong in the first set, jumping out to a 9-0 lead early. Despite Luray following up with a 5-0 run of their own, the Panthers did not relinquish the lead until the final points of the set. From 17-17, the set would be tied four times until the Bulldogs won the last four points and took the set, 25-21.
After a close, back-and-forth opening set, the wind seemed to go out of the Panthers who fell behind 20-2 in the second set. They went on to lose 25-10, as Luray substituted freely late in the second frame.
The Panthers regained their composure in the third set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and maintaining it until the set was tied at 12-12. The set would be tied five times down the stretch, and Luray lead by as much as four points at 19-15. However, the Panthers were able to flip the script and win three of the final four points after a 22-22 tie and claim a 25-23 win, which forced a fourth set.
Luray put everything together in the fourth and final set to jump out to an early 4-1 lead that they never relinquished. The Bulldogs were able to stay just ahead of the Panthers until the score reached 15-11, when they went on a 9-0 run to make it 24-11. Page would score five straight points, but Luray finally closed out the winning set 25-16, and won the match, 3-1.
Both teams have three matches left in the regular season, which will end on Oct. 23. With both Rappahannock and Luray dropping back to Class 1A play in the postseason, Page should be able to make the Region 2B tournament with only three wins, but will almost certainly play on the road.
Luray should get home court advantage in the first round of the Region 1B tournament, currently being ranked third as of Oct. 10. Hopefully, the Bulldogs can end the regular season strong to build momentum into the postseason after a streaky season that saw them lose six straight, win five of six, and then win three of six.
Up next, Luray (7-4, 7-10) travels to Rappahannock County (4-7, 6-10) on Thursday, before hosting Stonewall Jackson (0-10, 0-15) on Monday, Oct. 20 and traveling to No. 1 Clarke County (10-0, 12-4) on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Page County (3-8, 3-15) will host Madison County (7-3, 10-6) on Thursday night, before hosting Strasburg (3-7, 4-12) on Tuesday, Oct. 21 and traveling to Rapp on Thursday, Oct. 23.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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