Marion Athletics -

BATESVILLE --- The Marion Patriots have racked up an insane 52-6 record in conference play since the beginning of the 2021 season, including three 5A East titles.

Handing MHS two of those league losses in that span is the Batesville Pioneers, popping the Pats in 2022 and 2024 contests inside Pioneer Gymnasium.

Marion got a measure of revenge Thursday evening as the Patriots made one of their longer road trips of the season and came away with a three-set victory (25-10, 25-14, and 25-10), which moves the Patriots to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in 2025.

The Patriots play at the Bartlett River City Classic this weekend for at least four matches, and Marion jumps back into league play on Tuesday, September 9, when Paragould visits Fidelity Bank Arena. Marion travels to play Valley View on Thursday, September 11. The Paragould and Valley View matches can be watched for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel.

Kendall Brown paced the Pats with 11 kills at Batesville, while Kennedy Bullins stacked 10, and Reese Goodwin and Marlee Williams came up with seven kills apiece.

Marion served seven aces, led by two apiece from Bullins and Goodwin, while Kaitlyn Austin, Taylor Chamness, and Annabelle White served one each. Bullins logged three blocks, while Brown and Austin finished with two apiece. White led the way with 11 digs, and Abby Simmons and Austin logged eight apiece. Chamness recorded 19 assists, while Claire Brinkley finished with 16.

Bullins and Williams recorded kills for the first two points of the match, and a Goodwin ace pushed the Pats' lead to 3-0. And after Goodwin's second kill of the first set, Marion led 13-5 to force a Batesville timeout.

A Bullins kill gave Marion its first double-digit lead at 16-6, and the senior clinched a 15-point Patriot victory in the initial set with a kill.

Bullins, Brown, Goodwin, and Austin stacked kills, part of an early 8-3 Marion lead, and a Chamness ace pushed the Pats in front 14-4, followed by a Brown kill.

Kills from Williams, Brown, and Jaida Sturdivant gave Marion a late 12-point lead, and the Pats finished off a 25-14 conquest in the second stanza.

Goodwin recorded a kill, followed by back-to-back Bullins blocks, and a Goodwin ace gave Marion a 4-0 advantage.

Williams tallied kills on two of three points a little later, the latter of which gave Marion an 8-1 lead and forced a Pioneer timeout.

Leading 13-6, Goodwin logged a kill, Bullins scored on a block, and Austin came up with back-to-back kills to give the visitors a 17-6 advantage.

Bullins logged a kill and served consecutive aces, leading to a Brown kill that gave Marion a tidy 25-10 victory and a match sweep.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Patriots play at the Bartlett River City Classic this weekend for at least four matches, and Marion jumps back into league play on Tuesday, September 9, when Paragould visits Fidelity Bank Arena. Marion travels to play Valley View on Thursday, September 11. The Paragould and Valley View matches can be watched for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 9/4
Marion 3, Batesville 0
Greene Co. Tech 3, Nettleton 0
Paragould 3, Searcy 0
Mountain Home 3, W. Memphis 0
Valley View did not play a conference match.

5A EAST STANDINGS AS OF 9/5
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
MARION 3-0
Valley View 2-0
Greene Co. Tech 2-1
Paragould 2-1
Nettleton 1-2
Mountain Home 1-2
Batesville 1-2
Searcy 0-2
W. Memphis 0-2
The top four teams make the state tournament October 27-29 in Marion.

5A EAST MATCHES ON 9/9
Paragould at Marion
Valley View at W. Memphis
Greene Co. Tech at Searcy
Batesville at Mountain Home
Nettleton does not play a conference match.