Luray steals a win from Red Pride

GREENVILLE — Luray put together a late run to knock off Riverheads in five games 17-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-16 and 19-17.

The Gladiators and Bulldogs started Game 1 off, exchanging point for point as neither team could get an advantage. With the score tied at 10 Riverheads’ Monica Weaver blasted an ace that couldn’t be returned.

That ace led to a Gladiators’ surge, as they never looked back. Back-to-back aces by Weaver and a kill by Kristen Moody put the Gladiators up for good as they went on to win the first game.

In the second, the Gladiators used blocking as a way to put the Bulldogs in a hole. With the score tied at 10, Moody blocked Luray’s Katie Cubbage spike to put Riverheads up for good.

After an ace by Weaver she finished off the Bulldogs with a kill to win game two.

With all momentum on the Gladiators side Luray gave all they had in the third give them a chance to further the match.

Cubbage came up big for the Bulldogs as she had four kills in the third game and was too much for the Gladiators to overcome. The Bulldogs ran away with Game 3, 24-15.

In Game 4, Luray did much of the same as they did in the third. Luray’s Ashley Housden set up Cubbage for a spike, as she was able to capitalize.

The Gladiators did not have the same momentum as they had in the first two games. They were giving into the Bulldogs attack and were not responding.

With the match tied at two both teams took time to plan out there attack for the third.

Luray, with all the momentum, came out strong going up 2-0 on the Gladiators but they would respond to tie the game at three. Luray added another run going up 6-3.

Taylor Blackwell-Kershner served seven straight service points as the Gladiators went up 10-6. Both side’s fans were on there feet cheering on their teams.

The Bulldogs came roaring back on as they capitalized on Gladiator mistakes. With the score tied at 14 both teams were on their toes to not let anything drop in front of them.

Luray went up by one but was unable to put Riverheads as away as Moody came up with a block to keep it tied.

It was Riverheads turn to take the lead as they went up by one but was unable to finish off the Bulldogs as they kept fighting.

With the Bulldogs up 18-17, they were able to put the ball out of the reach of the Gladiator defenders giving them the nail biting win 19-17 and the match.

Riverheads coach Whitney Dove thought here girls played hard but was frustrated that her team was unable to put the Bulldogs away when they had the chance.

“We played hard in the first two games and we just let up,” said Dove. “We started the season 6-2 and this is our fifth lose in a row, I just don’t know what is wrong.”

Riverheads’ Katie Coffey led the team with 20 digs and Tiffany Flesher added 10 kills.

Riverheads won the JV’s in two games 25-14, 27-25.