Marion bests Beebe in straight sets

Patriots get first win of 2021 season in convincing fashion

Marion School District BEEBE — One night after season-opening loss in Collierville, Tennessee, the Marion Patriot volleyball team turned in a sterling performance Tuesday at Badger Sports Arena in Beebe.

Playing the Badgers for the third time in nearly one calendar year, Marion (1-1 overall) turned in a nearly flawless effort in a threeset (25-9, 25-16 and 25-7) road victory.

“I’m very pleased with how we played tonight,” said Marion coach Lisa Beasley. “We had many fewer hitting errors and scored in bunches rather than a point at a time. We improved in a lot of areas that we discussed after last night (3-1 loss at Collierville). I’m just a really proud coach tonight.”

Senior Kora Wilson sparked Marion in the opening set, recording a kill and serving consecutive aces for a 3-0 Patriot advantage. Wilson’s second kill of the set staked Marion to a 8-3 lead and forced a Beebe timeout.

After the stoppage, Marion senior Madison Keith set classmate Anna Caroline Fesmire for a pair of kills before Keith perfectly placed a kill between the Beebe defense for a 13-3 lead. The Patriots pushed their lead to 13 points when when senior Daedrianna Cail and Wilson recorded kills and Keith logged another ace.

Marion scored the last five points to clinch a 25-9 victory.

Beebe took an early 3-2 lead in the second set before Marion responded with six straight points for an 8-4 advantage. Junior Kiah Rucker logged consecutive kills to swell

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Photo by Chuck Livingston PATRIOTS (cont.)

Marion’s lead to eight points (14-6). The Pats claimed their largest lead at 18-8 when Cail, Fesmire and senior Lauryn Keith recorded kills and Wilson served an ace. Wilson registered kills on Marion’s final three points of the second set to set the 25-16 decision.

The Marion momentum rolled into the third set as the Patriots scored eight of the first nine points to force a Beebe timeout. The Patriot lead swelled to 13-3 when Madison Keith lobbed a pair of perfect sets leading to Fesmire kills.

Kills from Fesmire, Cail and Wilson sparked a 6-0 Marion burst, which resulted in a 17-5 advantage.

Cail logged kills on Marion’s final three points for a 25-7 conquest.

“I thought we made some awesome defensive plays, our block was a lot bigger tonight,” said Beasley. “We always preach team defense, and I thought we played excellent team defense tonight.”

Marion opened its home conference schedule Thursday night at Fidelity Bank Arena against Greene County Tech. Look for results in an upcoming edition of the Times.

Photo by Chuck Livingston