Pundits across the state were likely unsure what to make of the 2026 Marion volleyball team.
After all, Marion had just graduated six seniors who all played major roles on the Pats’ 28-2 Class 5A state championship team of 2025.
However, the 2026 Pats made the most of their chances.
Marion capped a 23-3 regular season on Thursday evening with a three-set victory (25-20, 25-17, 25-19) at Fidelity Bank Arena over Searcy, running the Patriots’ 5A East record this fall to 15-1.
The Patriots will be the No. 1 seed from the 5A East at next week’s Class 5A state volleyball tournament in Farmington after winning or sharing the 5A East league crown for the fifth time in six seasons.
It’s the 15th conference championship in 31 seasons of Marion volleyball, and Patriot head volleyball coach Lisa Beasley earned a conference Coach of the Year for the 14th time.
Marion opens its run at the 2026 Class 5A state volleyball tournament at 12 p.m. Monday, October 26, at Farmington Middle School against Texarkana.
Should the Patriots top Texarkana, then Marion would play at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, at Cardinal Arena at Farmington High School against the winner of the Little Rock Christian-Van Buren match.
A potential semifinal match would be played at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, also at Cardinal Arena.
You can watch every Marion volleyball match at the Class 5A state volleyball tournament for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network.
Marion was quick out of the gates in the first set Thursday night against Searcy, opening the match on a 7-0 run.
That run began with kills by Izzy Fenter, Marlee Williams, Claire Brinkley and Kendall Brown, while Alli Sharp served an ace.
A Bren Sutton kill gave Marion a double-digit lead at 17-7, but the Lions worked within four points twice late in the set before the Patriots earned a 25-20 victory.
A Williams ace and blocks from Brown and Taylor Ruffin got Marion off to a flying 8-3 to open the second stanza, and Marion again claimed a double-digit lead (16-6) when Fenter came up with a kill, while Sutton, Brown and Ruffin helped cap the scoring in the second frame as Marion won by eight.
Brinkley served back-to-back aces to help Marion take the lead for good in the third set, and a Sutton kill gave Marion a 13-9 lead and forced a Searcy timeout.
But Searcy got within 19-18 late in the frame, when Sutton racked up three kills, while Fenter had one, and Williams came up with one to help Marion earn a six-point win and clinch another conference title.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Marion opens its run at the 2026 Class 5A state volleyball tournament at 12 p.m. Monday, October 26, at Farmington Middle School against Texarkana.
Should the Patriots top Texarkana, then Marion would play at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, at Cardinal Arena at Farmington High School against the winner of the Little Rock Christian-Van Buren match.
A potential semifinal match would be played at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, also at Cardinal Arena.
You can watch every Marion volleyball match at the Class 5A state volleyball tournament for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network.
FINAL 5A EAST STANDINGS
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 15-1
Valley View 15-1
Paragould 12-4
Searcy 10-6
Greene Co. Tech 8-8
Nettleton 5-11
Batesville 3-13
Beebe 3-13
W. Memphis 0-16