Bulldogs flip 4th and 5th place with Rapp in Bull Run
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Oct. 3 — The Luray Bulldogs moved up one step in the Bull Run District standings on Thursday night after sweeping fourth-placed Rappahannock in three sets at home. With seven matches remaining in the regular season, an improved Luray squad looks to make up for early season losses to the top half of the district and keep rising through the back half of the schedule.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs fell behind 4-0 in the opening set before knotting it up at 6-6. The score would be tied four more times. Every time Luray took a lead (15-11, 21-17), the Panthers fought back. At 24-20, Rapp would rattle off three straight points to come within one, but the Bulldogs secured the first set 25-23. Luray senior Kate Taglauer recorded four kills in the first set, while freshman Caroline Donovan also accounted for four points, with two kills and two aces. Rapp got a pair of aces and a kill from junior Cameron Pond.
The Bulldogs controlled the second set the entire way, riding an early 11-5 lead to a 25-19 win. Taglauer again contributed four points, with a pair of kills and two aces. At one point, Rapp drew to within three at 19-16, but that would be the closest gap of the second set. The Panthers got three kills from senior Brooke Atkins.
The third set was close early, but Luray grew a 4-3 lead into a 14-9 advantage. Rapp would come within one, at 20-19, but the Bulldogs scored five of the next seven points to win 25-21. Junior Reese Fitton and Donovan both had three kills during the final set. Rapp picked up four points from Pond.
Luray was lead by Taglauer with seven kills and two aces. Freshman Sierra Forder had a solid outing with five kills, two blocks and an ace. Donovan finished with six kills and four aces, while Fitton had five kills, one ace and a block.
For Rapp, Pond recorded five kills and three aces, Atkins had five kills, and junior Chloe Jenkins posted four kills and a block.
Up next, the now fourth-placed Bulldogs of Luray (4-4, 6-7) travel to Strasburg (1-6, 1-12) for a 7:15 p.m.opening serve on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The Rams’ only win this season came at home against Stonewall Jackson on Sept. 17.
Rapp won the last matchup with Luray, 3-0, at home on Sept. 10. Now that the Bulldogs have returned the favor, the Panthers (4-5, 8-10) drop to fourth place in the Bull Run and host Stonewall Jackson (2-6, 2-10) at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. The Generals beat Page County, 3-2, at home on Thursday night. Stonewall’s only other win this season came on the road, at Page, on Sept. 10.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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