Marion Athletics -

Marion took down one big challenge last Thursday evening when the Patriots earned a road win at league rival and state power Valley View.

On Tuesday night, Marion took down another challenge, one that has claimed many a team before.

Hosting South Crittenden County rival West Memphis inside Fidelity Bank Arena, Marion blasted the Blue Devils in three sets (25-6, 25-9, and 25-8), a feat made more impressive because the Patriots never trailed at any point in the match.

The Patriots improved to 11-2 overall and 6-0 in 5A East play, good enough for sole possession of first place in the league. Marion takes a break from conference action on Thursday when the Patriots host Tennessee power Collierville inside 3M Transit Arena.

Marion scored the first five points of the first set against West Memphis, getting a block and a kill from Kennedy Bullins, as well as a kill from Kaitlyn Austin, and when the Patriots pushed ahead 8-1 following a Kendall Brown block, West Memphis called for time.

The Marion rampage continued after the stoppage with Brown coming up with two kills, and Bullins one, the second Brown point giving the Pats their first double-digit lead at 11-1.

Claire Brinkley went to work later in the set, handing out assists twice to Jaida Sturdivant and Marlee Williams, Brown, and Bullins, as Marion stormed to an 18-3 advantage.

Taylor Chamness took over late in the first set with three assists down the stretch, including a pair to Bullins, and when Reese Goodwin served an ace, Marion had clinched a 25-6 victory in the initial set.

MHS hit the visitors with another opening blow in the second set, scoring the first four points, and taking another 8-1 lead as Austin came up with three kills, Bullins a pair, and Goodwin came up with one.

An Izzy Fenter kill pushed the Pats in front 9-1, and following an Austin ace, Marion had earned its first double-digit lead of the second set at 12-2.

Three consecutive points from Brown gave Marion a 20-5 advantage, Annabelle White and Abbigale “Abby” Simmons served aces, and when Aynslee Coad slammed her second kill of the night, Marion had earned a dominant 25-9 victory in set No. 2.

Marion got three kills from Bullins, one apiece from Austin and Williams, and an ace from Goodwin to fashion a 7-0 lead to launch the third and decisive set.

Two kills by Brown, one by Cameron Baker, and a White ace gave Marion a 13-4 lead to force a Blue Devil timeout, but White promptly served back-to-back aces following the stoppage to give her team a 15-4 lead.

Brinkley served three straight aces later in the third set to stretch Marion's lead from 20-7 to 23-7, and Brown punctuated Marion's victory with a kill to clinch a 17-point victory in the closer.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion hosts Collierville (TN) on Thursday evening for a junior varsity/varsity contest inside 3M Transit Arena. The contest begins at 4:30 ,and you can watch the Collierville match for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

BEASLEY'S MILESTONE
Prior to the varsity contest Tuesday evening against West Memphis, the Marion School District presented Head Volleyball Coach Lisa Beasley with a plaque to commemorate her 600^th varsity victory at the school. Marion's three-set victory in the season-opener against Wynne was her 600^th win as head volleyball coach, and they have all come at Marion.
Beasley's 610 career victories since 1996 are good for an average of more than 20 wins per season.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 9/16
Marion 3, W. Memphis 0
Paragould 3, Nettleton 2
Mountain Home 3, Valley View 2
Batesville 3, Searcy 1
Greene Co. Tech did not play a conference match.

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 9/17
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
MARION 6-0
Paragould 4-2
Valley View 3-2
Greene Co. Tech 3-2
Mountain Home 3-2
Batesville 3-3
Searcy 1-4
Nettleton 1-4
W. Memphis 0-5
The top four teams make the state tournament, October 27-29 in Marion.

5A EAST MATCHES ON 9/18
Paragould at Batesville
Nettleton at Valley View
Greene Co. Tech at W. Memphis
Searcy at Mountain Home
Marion does not play a conference match, but hosts Collierville beginning at 4:30 p.m.