By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

After being defeated earlier by Wichita Homeschool and Rural Vista, both Centre and Marion volleyball teams were looking for their first victory Saturday when they faced each other in the final match of pool play at Centre’s invitational. Centre came out on top after three sets.

Centre defeated Marion 25-21 in the first game, but Marion came back to defeat Centre, 25-17.

The third game was a repeat of the first, 25-22, as Centre claimed the victory.

The Cougars outhit the Warriors, 27-18. Centre’s leading hitters were Samantha Espinoza, 9; Alyssa Espinoza, 8; Emma David, 5; and Carly Deines, 4. Marion’s Laura Savage and Anne Beliel had 4 hits each.

Centre’s A. Espinoza served a perfect 20, followed by Gracie Luna, 14, and Emma David, 13. Marion’s Lily Lundy and Cali Burkholder had 18 serves each. Chloe Burkholder had 12.

Centre received 28 serves compared with 24 by Marion. Leading receivers were Centre’s Lexus Brewer and Deines, and Marion’s Jayden May.

The teams were almost even in assists. Seventeen of 18 assists by Marion were by Chloe Burkholder. Centre’s Espinoza twins had six assists each.

Marion was better at blocking than Centre at 11-5. Laura Savage and Baliel combined for 10 blocks for Marion, and the Espinoza twins combined for Centre’s 5 blocks.

No digs were reported for Marion. Centre’s A. Espinoza had 29, Brewer, 17, and David, 16. Deines and Luna combined for 22 digs, S. Espinoza had 9 digs, and Kaitlyn Hudson had 7.

Centre will be at Marion’s Spikefest tournament Saturday.