SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Hard work does pay off every once in a while. At least it did for Tayler Pugliese on Thursday.

Pugliese was named the Player of the Match at the Star Beacon-Frank Roskovics Senior Classic.

“Every time I go out and play, I play the hardest I can play,” Pugliese said. “Obviously, hard work pays off.”

“It shows all her hard work and dedication from her eighth-grade year, during the season and out, paid off,” Lisa Newsome, her coach at Lakeside, said. “Winning a share of the (Premier Athletic Conference championship) and the MVP tonight was proof that if you work hard and put in the time and effort, you will reap the rewards.”

The Lakeside senior proved to be a weapon in every aspect of the game for the home team in it’s 25-20, 25-23, 16-25, 25-18 win over the visitors.

“Really, it’s the first time I’ve seen her play a full match,” Pymatuning Valley coach Rob Wludyga, who shared coaching duties for the Home team with Newsome, said. “Right after (the match), everyone knew she was going to win (the award).

“She can do it all. She’s a smart setter, she’s athletic, she can put a good swing on the ball and she can hit the ball hard. She has all the tools you need to be a good volleyball player.”

Learning how to play well as a passer, hitter and setter was important for Pugliese entering the Dragons’ season.

“At the beginning of the season, I knew I had a role to fill,” Pugliese said. “One of the best outside hitters in the area last year (Star Beacon Ashtabula County co-Player of the Year Miranda Newsome) left school, someone had to take her place. Every practice, I worked hard and made sure to improve upon my hitting.”

She scored 12 points with one serving ace, was 16-of-17 spiking with six aces, 14-14 passing and 73-76 setting with 18 aces and had two blocks and four dinks with one ace.

“She does everything,” Newsome said. “She can play the back row, set or hit from the outside, middle or weak side. She hits strong from all the positions we needed her to. Aside from that, she’s a smart player. Whether she’s setting or hitting, she can put the ball where she needs to.”

The level of players surrounding her Thursday at the match helped Pugliese to raise the level of her play.

“Everyone else had a lot to do with (winning Player of the Match honors),” Pugliese said. “The whole team played well for us not having played with each other before. The whole team played well.

“There were some very good athletes on the floor tonight. The environment around great athletes brings everyone else up. They did help me play a lot better.”

And, as Pugliese’s stats were being read just before she was named the top player, nearly all of her teammates were starting to congratulate her. They already knew where the award was going.