One of the first events I covered for the Marion County Record was the 2004 Centre High School volleyball tournament.

I was there in 2005, 2007, and again Saturday. The 2004 tournament always has stayed with me, mainly because it’s hard to forget something you spend eight hours watching.

Needless to say, it was nice to watch the Marion High School Warriors claim the championship this year, defeating Centre, Hope, Herington, and Little River.

A loss to Little River in pool play gave the team a 4-1 record for the day, and a 6-6 season record.

Obviously, it wasn’t a state championship, but with six victories, the girls have won only two less matches than the entire 2007 season. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this team is heading in the right direction.

There are no seniors on the squad, but with a junior class with a lot of leadership, and underclassmen who have shown great poise, the Warriors played beyond their years at Centre.

Not at full strength, and perhaps even in awe of its new facility, Marion got off to a slow start Sept. 6 at the Mid-Central Activities Association tournament on its home court.

They have gone 4-3 since a 2-3 MCAA tourney showing, and will play host Saturday to the Marion Invitational.

That’s their chance to make a good impression for the home fans.

The Warriors played host Tuesday to a triangular, but results were not available by press time.

At full strength, and with 12 matches under their belt, the girls are starting to mesh and play the way head coach Jim Versch always said they can.

A .500 record doesn’t scream state championship. However, the Warriors are playing as a team, improving, and seem to be having fun. A winning record shouldn’t even be in the discussion if a team does not have that combination.

Good thing for Warriors’ fans, Marion does.