Staff writer
The Marion High School girls volleyball team saw their season come to a close Saturday, as eventual substate tournament champion Hillsboro knocked them out of the first round of play at USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center.
Hillsboro opened up a 14-7 lead in the first game and the lead quickly turned into 19-11, as the Lady Trojans coasted to a 25-15 victory.
“It took a little time for us to warm up,” Marion head coach Jim Versch said.
The Lady Warriors turned up their level of play for the second game. Whitney Gordon and Briana Hall provided blocking up front to stifle the Hillsboro hitters, as Marion battled to a tie. The Lady Trojans used a 9-2 run to reclaim the lead at 22-15. Marion fought back, but Hillsboro claimed the match by winning 25-21.
“If we would have come out the first game the way we did the second game, it might have been different,” Versch said. “We played well against the state qualifying team.”
“We were never ahead, we were just going back and forth with points, and they scored more than we did,” Versch said.
Marion ended its season with a record of 13-21, and was 4-5 in Heart of America League competition.