By james art 
Senior libero Riley Gordon serves against Strasburg in Monday night’s Bull Run District Tournament win over the Rams. On Tuesday night, the #3 Mountaineers head to Woodstock to face #2 Central in a semifinal game. Mad Raoo photo by Chuck Jackson.
After a 3-0 win over Strasburg on Monday night, the Madison County volleyball players had less than 24 hours to enjoy a Bull Run District quarterfinal victory before heading to Woodstock to face No. 2 Central (16-4) on Tuesday night.
With a delayed arrival in Madison due to paving on FT Valley Road, the No. 6 Rams (2-18) battled the third-seeded Mountaineers (17-3) early in all three sets before the home team took over.
Madison took a 19-15 lead when sophomore Jenna Tanner went to the service line. Tanner served an ace on her first serve, saw senior libero Riley Gordon hit a kill and then hit her third serve that broke the net before falling down court for another Madison point.
The Mountaineers put the game away, 25-17, when officials called a Rams foul for snapping the ball four times.
In Set 2, Madison broke open a 1-1 tie with eight straight points and kept the pressure on Strasburg, enjoying a 14-point lead, 21-7, at one point.
Junioe Clemence Barcqbein scored the final point for a 25-8 margin when her kill shot split the Strasburg defense.
The Rams opened the third set 6-4, but Madison battled back, scoring the next six points for a lead it never relinquished.
Kills by sophomore Anna Thompson gave Madison leads of 20-15 and 24-17. Then Tanner nailed the final kill.
Senior Michelle Thompson led Madison in kills and digs, producing 11 and 16, respectively.
Tanner also had eight kills and 12 digs, while Gordon also had 12 digs.
Sophomore Maddie Dean dished out 31 assists and her sister, senior Lorelai Dean, had three blocks.