Marion volleyball stays sharp in Hot Springs tourney play
Pats roll in pool play against tough state competition
Marion School District The Marion volleyball team stayed sharp over the weekend while playing in a competitive tournament in Hot Springs.
The Patriots (12-7 overall, 5-2 5A East) finished 3-0 in pool play, winning six consecutive sets, by topping Russellville (25-18, 25-14), Mena (25-9, 25-8), and Lake Hamilton (25-11, 25-11). Class 4A power Brookland slipped Marion in the opening round of bracket play (28-18, 25-27, and 16-14).
Marion ripped Russellville as senior Kiah Rucker pounded a team-high six kills, followed by freshman Kennedy Bullins’ four kills. Senior Meredith Williams finished with three kills, while senior Madison Allison, sophomore Alexa Shinabery, and freshmen Aynslee Coad and Kaitlyn Austin recorded two kills apiece. Williams served a team-high three aces against Russellville, while sophomores Shinabery and Maggie Miller and freshman Taylor Chamness served one each. Miller logged a team-high 18 assists and 10 digs against Russellville.
Marion mauled Mena behind Bullins’ team-high 11 kills, while Rucker finished with six and Williams added three. Miller and Bullins served four aces apiece against Mena, while Shinabery topped the Marion digs chart with nine, followed by Miller’s eight, and Austin’s five.
Miller’s 21 assists led the way against Mena.
Rucker recorded a teamhigh seven kills against Lake Hamilton, with Shinabery just behind with six of her own. Marion served 11 aces against Lake Hamilton, with Miller and Shinabery serving three apiece, and Chamness logging a pair. Miller (10) and Bullins (nine) paced the Pats in digs, while Miller’s 21 assists also led the way.
