Staff writer
The Marion High School volleyball team took a step closer to finding its identity with a come from behind win over Moundridge, 21-25, 25-19, and 25-14, Tuesday on senior night in Marion.
“We wanted to prove to our crowd that we’re worth coming to watch,” setter Chassidy Carlson said.
Coach Jim Versch thought the Warriors looked more comfortable in the second game. Senior setter Carlson thought the Warriors got back to playing Marion volleyball.
Versch said comfort on the floor was about players knowing their roles on the team and him knowing which players complement one another.
The most important part of being a senior leader for Carlson is continuing to talk to her teammates and encourage them to increase their comfort level on the floor.
“I try to always stay positive,” she said. “I don’t want these girls to ever think it’s OK to blame a teammate.”
To Carlson, Marion volleyball is about playing intelligently as well as playing hard. A part of intelligent play is the Warriors serving, which can prey on the weaknesses of an opponent’s defense.
Briana Hall had a serving streak of 12 serves in the Warriors early victory against Bennington, 25-19 and 25-16. Carlson, Hall, Whitney Gordon, and Katey Ehrlich had serving streaks in the second and third games against Moundridge.
To Versch, Marion volleyball is about setting up Marion’s big hitters in the middle. Gordon and Hall had several kills in the final two games against Moundridge.
“We’re going to our strengths to win games,” Versch said.
Versch was impressed with the heart the team showed in the match against Moundridge. Versch said the team is in the shadows of last year’s squad that put up a 25-11 record. However, he said that team, when the core of the team was mostly juniors, would give up in matches after losing the first game.
“A match like that builds character,” he said. “A lot of teams would give up after a game like that.”