Warriors take fourth at Centre tournament
Sports reporter
Marion High School Warrior volleyball team started off with a bang Saturday, but ended with a tough loss in the semi-finals of the Centre tournament and a fourth-place finish.
The Warriors (6-7), began with a 2-0 pounding of Flint Hills Christian, 25-9 and 25-13.
Senior Toni Gordon, who was named to the all-tournament team, lead MHS with seven kills.
After a break, MHS came out to face the Herington Railers. Once again the Warriors took care of their opponent 2-0, but it wasn't without a fight. After a 25-18 victory in game one, the Warriors were put to the test.
Two kills, two Warrior errors, and a Railer block, contributed to Herington jumping ahead 5-1. The teams played about even the next 20 points, and the Railers still led 16-10.
Marion wasn't done yet.
Seniors Megan Hudson and Emalee Versch each had a kill, and Herington contributed an error, as the Warriors cut the lead to 16-13.
Hudson, Versch, and senior Toni Gordon continued the Warriors' hot play with two kills and an ace, but Herington still led 23-21.
A tough match with number one seed Little River loomed, and the Warriors wanted to end this match as early as possible.
And they did.
Junior Erin Carr recorded the first of three straight Warrior kills to help the team take a 24-23 lead. Herington recorded the next point, but Hudson came right back with a powerful kill to give MHS the lead once again, 25-24.
Needing one more point for the sweep, MHS didn't have to do much as Herington's Ashley Polston committed an error to give Marion a 26-24 victory.
Hudson led MHS with four kills, and junior Erin Richmond recorded 50 assists.
The victory meant if MHS could defeat Little River in the next round of pool play, it would be the number one seed heading into the semi-finals.
The first game of the match was no contest for the Redskins.
They jumped out to an early 12-7 lead behind sophomore Apryl Schmucker.
Her serving and powerful attacks were too much for MHS, as Little River took the first game, 25-14.
Just when it seemed the Warriors were out gas, they roared ahead of Little River 6-0 in game two.
The Redskins then went on an 11-4 run to take a one-point lead. Sloppy play and a Warrior kill from Gordon knotted the match at 13.
It was back and forth for both teams. Versch recorded three kills and Schmucker continued to dominate during a stretch that left the match tied at 20.
It was back and forth once again, this time the Redskins controlling the tempo. Six straight possessions Little River either recorded a kill or committed an error, as MHS pulled ahead 24-23.
However, it was Gordon, who would decide the outcome.
After Little River returned the serve, sophomore Erin Richmond sent a pass right in front of the net and Gordon slammed down one of her team-leading five kills to claim the victory.
The third game looked to be another good battle with Little River taking an early 10-8 lead.
The Redskins went on a 9-5 run to open the lead to 19-13 and never looked back. They took the third game and the number one seed with a 25-16 victory.
With a 2-1 record MHS still advanced to semifinal play with a match-up against the other number one seed Council Grove.
There the Braves took care of the Warriors handily, sweeping them 25-13 and 26-24.
MHS hung tough in the second game without Hudson who injured her leg halfway through, diving for a loose ball.
In the third-place game Hope knocked off Marion 25-16, 25-27, and 25-18.
Gordon recorded a team-high 28 kills on the day, while Carr chipped in with eight kills.
The Warriors had their first home match of the season Tuesday against Halstead. Their next match will be Tuesday when they travel to Lindsborg and take on Smoky Valley.
Sterling quad
MHS traveled to Sterling Sept. 6 for a quad with Nickerson and Sterling.
The team went 2-1 with victories against Collegiate and Nickerson, and a loss to Sterling.
Hudson led MHS with 15 kills.
