By Randy Arrington
ELKTON, Nov. 8 — Luray’s Jaidyn McClung has been named the Region B volleyball “Player of the Year.” The senior standout surpassed 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for her high school career over the past two weeks and has lead the Bulldogs to a Region B runner-up finish and a trip to the VHSL Class 2 state tournament that begins on Saturday.
Last week, McClung was named the Bull Run District’s “Player of the Year” for a second consecutive season.
Fellow senior Lindsey Bly also earned first team All-Region honors. Bly’s improved play late in the season for the Bulldogs has paid off as she only earned second team honors among the Bull Run’s All-District selections last week. Sophomore Caydence Cave earned second team All-Region honors after being selected for second team All-District honors last week.
All-Region selections were announced following Tuesday night’s Region B championship. Top-seeded East Rockingham captured the region title, 3-1, over Luray behind the strong play of sophomore Alliyah McNair, who recorded more than a dozen kills in the championship match. McNair was one of three first team All-Region selections for the Eagles, along with senior Madelyn Williams and senior libero Bria Berriochoa. East Rock also placed junior Kate Simpkins on the All-Region second team.
Rounding out the All-Region first team were two selections from Clarke, junior Anna Spencer and senior defensive specialist Natalie Rodriguez; two selections from Central, junior Bailey Sheetz and junior Peyton DiNardo; and senior Whitlee Swink of Madison.
In Tuesday night’s Region B championship, Luray fell behind 5-0 early in the first set and remained a few points behind most of the way. However, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run late that brought the score from 23-17 to 23-22. Despite the comeback, East Rock scored the last two points and claimed the first set 25-22.
The second set started off close with five ties by the time it reached 8-8. The Eagles rode a small lead up to a score of 17-14, before catching momentum for a 6-0 run that broke open the set at 23-14. East Rock closed out a second set win, 25-17, as the top seed was eyeing a three-set sweep in the title game.
However, Luray came out dominant in the third set and rode a 7-0 run to an 8-3 lead fueled by four-straight service aces by Bly. The scoring would go back-and-forth and Luray would maintain its lead until a late East Rock run featuring three straight kills by McNair that suddenly brought the score to 19-18 in favor of the Bulldogs. Luray stayed just ahead and won three of the last four points to close out a 25-21 win in the third set.
The fourth and final set would prove to be the closest of the night, despite an early 6-1 lead by Luray. East Rock chipped away at the lead and tied the set at 9-9. From that point on, the set was tied 10 more times and the point difference was never more than two. At 23-23, the home-standing Eagles would score the last two points to secure the set and the match.
After upset wins over No. 3 Buckingham and No. 2 Clarke on the road, Luray’s “Cinderella story” ended with a runner-up finish in the Region B championship at East Rock on Tuesday night. Now, the Bulldogs (16-9) hope to extend that story as they travel to either Bruton or Poquoson for a quarterfinal matchup in the VHSL Class 2 state volleyball tournament this Saturday, Nov. 12.
Bruton and Poquoson are playing for the Region A championship, with East Rockingham (23-6) hosting the runner-up, and Luray traveling to the Region A champ.
The Class 2 state semifinals will take place at the higher seed on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The state championship will be held at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
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Hi Randy. May want to make a correction, last years Region 2b player of the year was actually Margo Fox of ERHS. Jaidyn has been Bull Run player of the year for two years in a row.
Thanks for the information. Correction has been made. We regret the error.