Marion Athletics -

JONESBORO --- As the Marion volleyball team surges towards a fourth conference title in five years, the Patriots can not afford to look ahead, no matter who the opponent may be.

The Patriots came up with a masterclass on that Tuesday night here inside Raider Gymnasium against Nettleton.

Marion trailed only briefly at Nettleton before outlasting the Raiders in three sets (25-10, 25-11, and 25-7) to improve to 17-2 overall in 2025 with a flawless 10-0 record in 5A East play.

The Patriots host Batesville on Thursday evening for another 5A East match, and MHS will also honor its seniors after the junior high contest and before warm-ups for the high school varsity match. The Batesville match will begin at 4:30 p.m., and you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

MHS got a jump on its Senior Night festivities at Nettleton as Kaitlyn Austin tallied a kill, followed by a Kennedy Bullins block and a kill, and when fellow senior Reese Goodwin served an ace, the Patriots had scored the first four points of the match. Marion's opening run hit 9-2 to force a Nettleton timeout.

Back-to-back kills from Goodwin and a Kendall Brown kill gave Marion its first double-digit lead of the first set at 13-3, and five straight Patriot points, including an ace from Abbigale “Abby” Simmons, and kills from Austin and Brown, gave Marion a 21-7 lead before the visitors coasted to that 25-10 decision in the lid-lifter.

Nettleton scored the first two points of the second stanza, but Marion immediately embarked on a 6-0 burst from there, highlighted by a pair of kills from Marlee Williams, and one apiece from Brown and Bullins.

The Raiders stayed within shouting distance of the Pats throughout the second frame, however, getting as close as 12-8, but that's when Marion ripped off six straight points, including kills from Austin, Jaida Sturdivant, Brown, and Williams, and Marion took another double-digit lead at 21-11 on a Raider hitting error before settling for a 14-point victory in the second.

Marion opened the eventual deciding third set by scoring seven of the first eight points as Bullins came up with two kills and a block, while Austin and Goodwin also tallied kills.

Kills by Brown and Bullins helped push the lead to 9-1, and Marion again claimed a double-digit lead at 15-5 when Sturdivant blocked a Nettleton shot at the net.

Goodwin helped put the Raiders away by serving three consecutive aces late in the set, and Bullins came up with the last two points with a kill and a block.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Patriots host Batesville on Thursday evening for another 5A East match, and MHS will also honor its seniors after the junior high contest and before warm-ups for the high school varsity match. The Batesville match will begin at 4:30 p.m., and you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

SENIOR NIGHT
Marion will recognize six senior volleyball players prior to the Batesville match on Thursday evening. Kaitlyn Austin, Kennedy Bullins, Taylor Chamness, Aynslee Coad, Reese Goodwin, and Abbigale “Abby” Simmons will be honored for their contributions to Patriot Volleyball.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 9/30
Marion 3, Nettleton 0
Valley View 3, Paragould 1
Greene Co. Tech 3, Mountain Home 1
Batesville 3, W. Memphis 0
Searcy did not play a conference match.

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/1
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 10-0
Valley View 8-2
Paragould 6-4
Greene Co. Tech 5-4
Mountain Home 5-4
Batesville 4-5
Searcy 2-7
Nettleton 2-8
W. Memphis 0-9

5A EAST MATCHES ON 10/2
Batesville at Marion
Greene Co. Tech at Nettleton
Paragould at Searcy
Mountain Home at W. Memphis
Valley View does not play a conference match.