Senior sweep: MHS knocks off Wichita Collegiate on parent s night
Sports reporter
It was one of those nights Sept. 27 where nothing could go wrong.
For Marion High School that is.
The Warrior volleyball team swept visiting Wichita Collegiate in two matches in front of the home crowd for the final time this season, and the final time ever for four seniors.
Allie Maddox, Megan Hudson, Emalee Versch, and Toni Gordon all contributed in their last home match as Marion Warriors.
"I thought overall the seniors did a great job," head coach Kara Chisholm said.
The first game was all Marion from the start, as the Warriors jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind two kills each from Versch and Gordon. Hudson did her part with three straight service aces to up the lead to 15-4. MHS rolled the rest of the way, claiming the first game 25-8.
The Spartans didn't fall so quickly in game two, taking a 7-6 lead, causing Chisholm to take a timeout.
"I told them you guys aren't playing the way you know how to play," she said. "I was proud how they stepped it up and controlled the tempo."
The Warriors did just that with a 13-4 run, taking a 19-11 lead and essentially icing the game and the match with a 25-19 victory. Gordon had a match-high eight kills, and Maddox and Versch recorded three each. Junior setter Erin Richmond helped her hitters with 18 assists.
"Toni is playing better than she ever has and she is learning her role," Chisholm said.
The Warriors took care of business again in the second match, downing Collegiate, 25-14, 25-13.
The Spartans played close in the first game, playing MHS even through the first 14 points. A Collegiate service error gave MHS the lead, and the momentum, as the Warriors ran off nine straight points to lead 16-7. Two Erin Carr kills and one Versch kill, combined with several Collegiate errors, was enough for Marion to win the game, 25-14.
Collegiate once again started out close in the final game, tying the match at nine with a service ace. Back-to-back kills from Carr and Gordon started another MHS run, this time 16-5, ending the match 25-13 in favor of Marion.
Gordon led the Warriors in kills again with five. Hudson was second with four, and Carr contributed three. Hudson led the defense with eight digs in the match. The victories pushed Marion's record to 11-8, giving the team one more victory than all of last year.
"My biggest concern was underestimating them and not coming out and playing good volleyball," Chisholm said. "Overall I was pleased."
At 5-1 in the Mid-Central Activities Association, the Warriors have road matches with Smoky Valley and Hesston before wrapping up league play. Chisholm knows Marion will have to play tough against both the Trojans and Swathers, but isn't afraid to take the court against anyone.
"It's not who we play, but how we play," she said. "We don't set unrealistic goals, but I know we can beat them."
Marion will take on the 14-2 Trojans at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
