MOUNTAIN HOME — The defending champion Marion Lady Patriots finally made their first appearance at the Class 6A state volleyball tournament on Wednesday evening and had to fight off the Texarkana Lady Razorbacks 3-1 (25-10, 25-12, 26-28, 25-22) to advance to today’s semifinals.
The Lady Patriots (24-4) had not played a match in eight days and were the only team to receive a first-round bye in the state tournament due to Pine Bluff not fielding a team in the 6A-South Conference. Marion was one of the favorites to win this year’s state tournament. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Lady Patriots looked rusty in trying to hold down the Lady Razorbacks, who won a five-game thriller over Russellville on Tuesday night.
“I knew Texarkana had a good team,” Marion Coach Lisa Beasley said. “They weren’t going to give up, they were going to be scrappy and fight for every point.”
Marion scored the first 10 points of the first set, getting three kills from 6-2 senior Harley Strayhorn along the way. Her fourth kill put Marion up 15-1 and her lone service ace gave the Lady Patriots a 16-2 advantage, their largest of the match. Strayhorn had six kills in the first set to lead Marion to the 25-10 victory.
The second set began almost the same way, with Marion jumping out to an 8-0 lead as Strayhorn had two kills and a block. The Lady Razorbacks closed the gap to 14-10 on a kill by Dulincia Keener and an ace by Breagon White. But Marion then went on a 9-0 run to take control of the game. Strayhorn scored Marion’s last two points for the 25-12 victory.
The third game was close throughout as Marion led by as many as four, 11-7, and Texarkana led by three at 19-16. The Lady Razorbacks got to game-point at 24-22 on an ace by White, but Marion had three consecutive kills - two by Strayhorn and one by Zane Carter - to take the lead at 25-24. Texarkana regained a 26-25 lead on a block by Brittany Reeves and a kill by Kenya Green. The score was tied again at 26-26 when Texarkana got the last two points on a kill by Reeves and an error on Marion.
Strayhorn led Marion with 29 kills and three blocks.
Sports, Pages 19 on 10/27/2011