Bulldogs will host Riverheads at 6 p.m. on Thursday for shot at 1B title
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Nov. 3 — After taking top-ranked Clarke to the brink in a 2-3 loss in Berryville during a Bull Run District semifinal last week, the Luray volleyball team swept the Panthers of Rappahannock in three sets during a Region 1B quarterfinal on Monday night.
Senior Reese Fitton lead the way with 11 kills, two aces and a block. Sophomore Lakin Vile recorded eight kills and an ace, while sophomore Caroline Donovan had five kills and four aces. Sophomore Emily Benson posted three kills and two blocks, while both sophomore Zoe Vaughn and junior Chloe Gochenour served up two aces each.
The Panthers came to play on Monday as they tied up the first set six times through the first eight points. The Bulldogs then got some traction, rattling off six of the next seven points after the last tie at 8-8. Luray would build on that 14-9 advantage and win by 10 in the first set, 25-15.
In the second set, Luray built an early lead and stayed a few points ahead of the Panthers until the set was knotted up at 18-18. No more than two points separated the two teams the rest of the way. The Bulldogs closed out a second win, 25-23.
The first half of the final set remained close, until Luray built up leads of four and then six points. The Bulldogs won the final set by seven, 25-18, and took the match 3-0.
The Panthers got strong performances from senior Carmen Pond, who posted seven kills and one ace, and junior Jaeda Switzer, who recorded six kills and an ace.
Rappahannock County ends its season at 7-13. The Panthers defeated the Page County Panthers 3-0 during their regular-season finale on Oct. 23, which broke a four-game losing streak.
No. 2 Luray (10-12) now advances to a Region 1B semifinal, where the Bulldogs will host No. 3 Riverheads (7-14) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. The Gladiators travel to Luray with no senior on its 12-man roster. Just like the Bulldogs, Riverheads’ roster is dominated by sophomores. The Gladiators have won four of their last seven and defeated sixth-seeded Altavista, 3-2, in Monday’s quarterfinal.
In another quarterfinal, No. 5 Buffalo Gap (5-16) also defeated No. 4 Cumberland, 3-1, and the Bison will now host No. 8 Surry on Thursday. In the biggest surprise of the region tournament, top-ranked Appomattox Regional Governor’s School fell to Surry, 3-2.
The Region 1B championship will be played at the higher seed on Saturday, Nov. 8.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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