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Warriors knock off Sterling, drop 4 matches

Sports reporter

It was a brutal week schedule-wise for the Marion High School volleyball team.

In a five-match span the Warriors played Hoisington (27-1, first in the state at 3A), Hillsboro (26-5), Oskaloosa (27-7), and Nickerson (7-1 in the Mid-Central Activities Association).

While MHS lost to all four opponents, there were times in each match they put some fear in the other teams. The Warriors also defeated Sterling Saturday, 26-24, 22-25, 25-18, at the Trojan invitational.

Hoisington and Nickerson were the Warriors' opponents Oct. 9 at the Marion quad, which also doubled as senior night.

Kalaya Jackson, Kimber Hardey, Lauren Helmer, Kristen Waner, Austin Percell, and Lanna Carroll all played for the final time at home.

The seniors took the court against Hoisington in the first match, and were pumped up for the number one team in the state.

MHS played hard and had the Cardinals on their heels, keeping a two- or three-point advantage at the beginning of the match.

"The girls didn't seem to be intimated," head coach Jim Versch said.

However, a 17-11 lead was as good as it would get for Marion, as the Cardinals went on an 11-1 run to lead 22-18. They eventually won the game, 25-21.

MHS jumped ahead 9-7 in game two, but like any good team, Hoisington kept its composure and ended up winning, 25-16.

Julia Zeiner led the attack with eight kills in the match, Waner had four, Kayley Heerey three, and Helmer added one.

Versch was pleased with all of their hitting, as well as the table-setting by a sophomore who just switched to the position a few weeks ago.

"Unbelievable setting from Lindsay Hett kept us in those games," he said.

Versch thought the next opponent, Nickerson, played as well, if not better, than Hoisington.

"They had a vartiey of hitting weapons along with precise servers," he said of the 18-14 Panthers.

The Warriors were over-matched in the two games, losing 25-15, 25-18.

Jackson had a kill in the first game for Marion, while Zeiner recorded three in game two and Heerey chipped in with one as well.

Although Versch was not happy about losing both, he was proud of the team's, and fans', effort.

"Emotions were high for our upperclassmen," he said. "The Marion student-body also was very spirited and really showed school spirit and support for the team."

Trojan invitational

It was more of the same Saturday in Hillsboro for Marion as it played two 20-plus win teams in Oskaloosa and Hillsboro.

The two came into the tournament with a combined record of 47-9.

The Warriors never really got it going in the first game against Oskaloosa, losing 25-15.

Zeiner had three kills, while Heerey and Waner each had one.

MHS didn't give up after the loss, jumping ahead of the Lady Bears 20-17.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, they did not score another point, as Oskaloosa ended the game with a 7-0 run, and a 25-20 victory.

A loss to Hillsboro in the second match, 25-19, 25-15, ended a chance at advancing beyond pool play.

"In the first game I felt we played with Hillsboro, but could never get over the hump to get the momentum to finish the game," Versch said.

They did get over the hump in the third match, defeating Sterling for the second time this season, 26-24, 22-25, 25-18.

Hardey finished off the third game with seven straight serves to break a tie, and win the match for the Warriors.

The victory gave Marion a 6-21 record overall, and the team remained at 3-5 in the MCAA.

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