PARAGOULD AND JONESBORO --- Making the state tournament is always a goal for the Marion volleyball team, something that the players and coaches do not take for granted even though they’ve made the postseason 23 times in the past 25 seasons.
And now, make it 24 times in 26 tries.
Marion will defend its Class 5A state championship in 2026 after a pair of 5A East victories last Thursday at Greene County Tech (25-18, 25-12, 25-20) inside Eagle Arena, and Tuesday evening at Raider Gym over Nettleton (25-21, 25-21, 25-11).
The Patriots (19-2 overall, 11-1 5A East) have just four conference contests left, and Marion would earn at least a share of the 5A East crown, plus the No. 1 playoff seed from the conference, by finishing 4-0 at home against Beebe (October 13), Batesville (October 15) and Searcy (October 22), plus a visit to Paragould (October 20).
Marion jumped Greene County Tech early in the first set, securing an early 6-2 lead as Claire Brinkley, Marlee Williams, and Kendall Brown came up with kills.
But the Eagles countered and worked within 18-16 after a stretch of five straight points, leading to a Taylor Ruffin kill, an ace from Brown, back-to-back Williams kills, and three Eagle hitting errors down the stretch to give Marion a seven-point win in the first set.
Greene County Tech bolted out to an early 4-3 lead in the second set, but Marion hit the jets from there, taking the lead for good at 6-5 on a Brown kill, the start of a 7-1 Marion run.
That stretch included two aces, plus a kill, from Annabelle White, and a Williams block point.
When White handed out another ace following an Eagle timeout, leading to a Williams kill, Marion led 15-6.
The Pats took their first double-digit lead (19-9) on an Izzy Fenter block point, and Brown came up with two kills down the stretch to help the Pats ease to a 13-point victory in the second stanza.
Marion held a tight 8-7 edge early in the third set, but the Patriots again embarked on a run that began with a Fenter kill, followed by a kill from Bren Sutton, leading to back-to-back kills from Fenter that gave the Pats a 14-8 lead.
A Mallorie Sharp ace gave the Pats a double-digit lead (18-8), and Marion closed out late when Brinkley came up with a block point, while Sutton and Brown slammed home kills.
Marion visited Nettleton on Tuesday evening with a chance to lock in its playoff spot, and the Patriots acted accordingly, snapping an 8-8 tie in the first set when White served an ace, Williams, Sutton and Brinkley slammed home kills, and when Brown came up with a kill of her own, Marion led 14-9 as the Raiders called for time.
A Brinkley ace followed by a Williams kill gave Marion a 19-12 lead, and the Patriots snuffed out a late Raider rally when Ruffin recorded a block point, Brinkley had a kill, and Williams blocked a shot as well.
The teams traded runs in the second set, but the Patriots found some breathing room at 17-14 after Ruffin and Williams recorded kills. A pair of kills from Sutton helped Marion ease to a four-point victory in the second stanza.
Set No. 3 saw the teams split the first eight points of the frame, but Marion embarked on the first and final run of the night as Williams registered a kill, followed by an ace, a Brown kill, another Williams ace, and when Ruffin came up with a kill, the Pats led 9-5.
A Sutton kill preceded a Brown ace, and a Williams block gave Marion its first double-digit lead at 17-7, and Williams logged four kills late, with White coming up with a kill of her own, to help Marion earn a 25-11 decision in the third set.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Marion steps out of conference play on Thursday afternoon with a contest at Tennessee powerhouse Briarcrest Christian. The Briarcrest contest will not be broadcast
The Pats are back in league action on Tuesday, October 13, with a home date against Beebe at 3M Transit Arena, followed by a home date with Batesville on Thursday, October 15, also at 3M Transit Arena. If you can not attend those contests, you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.
5A EAST RESULTS FROM 10/6
Marion 3, Nettleton 0
Valley View 3, Greene Co. Tech 0
Searcy 3, W. Memphis 0
Batesville 3, Beebe 0
5A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/7
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 11-1*
Valley View 11-1*
Paragould 9-2
Searcy 6-4
Greene Co. Tech 5-7
Nettleton 4-8
Batesville 3-8
Beebe 2-9
W. Memphis 0-11
*clinched state tournament berth
Top four teams advance to Class 5A state tournament at Farmington
5A EAST MATCHES ON 10/8
Valley View at Nettleton
Beebe at Paragould
Searcy at Batesville
W. Memphis at Greene Co. Tech
Marion at Briarcrest Christian (non-conference)