Warriors lose match to rival Hillsboro
Sports reporter
Marion High School Warriors lost both matches Oct. 5 to rival Hillsboro.
The two losses dropped the Warriors to 3-5 in the Mid-Central Activities Association, and 9-12 overall.
Coming off two hard fought losses to Wichita Collegiate, Marion looked to rebound against its cross-county rival.
The Trojans had other ideas, defeating Marion 25-19 and 25-11 in the first match. Marion pushed Hillsboro to the brink in the second match, but lost 22-25, 25-22, and 12-25.
Marion got off to a slow start in the first game of match number one, falling behind 14-6.
The two teams played about even the rest of the way as the Trojans took the first game by six. Junior Toni Gordon led Marion with three kills.
Gordon led Marion with two kills in the second game, but the Warriors were beat from the very start. Hillsboro led 18-11 before reeling off seven straight points to end the match.
Senior Sarah Williams led the Warriors with two service aces in the match.
After the break, Marion looked poised to take the first game.
An ace by senior Jill Hannaford gave Marion an 11-3 lead, but Hillsboro never gave up.
After Marion won a long rally to go up 19-13, it was the Trojans' turn to take the momentum.
Another long rally on the next point ended with a kill from Hillsboro sophomore JulieAnn Chilsholm to close the gap to five.
Chisholm and the rest of the Trojans then caught fire. Despite kills by junior Megan Hudson and Hannaford, Hillsboro was too strong the rest of the way, winning 25-22. Gordon and senior Leann Thomas had three kills each.
Game two finally swung Marion's way. The Warriors jumped ahead 6-2 behind two service aces from Hudson and two kills from senior Amber Richmond.
Marion led 24-17 late, but images of another Hillsboro comeback came to mind. The Trojans rattled off five straight points to cut the gap to 24-22. But a kill by Hannaford ended the game, and tied the match at one. Thomas led the Warriors with four kills.
As the deciding game three unfolded, there was little doubt who would come out on top. The Trojans were too much for Marion, jumping ahead 10-1. Marion however would not give in.
Trailing 21-9, Williams reeled off three straight aces to bring the crowd back to life. But Marion managed only one more point, dropping the game 25-12.
Huson, Thomas, and senior Chelsi Carlson all had one kill in the final game. Williams led the Warriors with five aces overall, and Gordon and Thomas finished with nine kills each.
Marion took on Hesston last night at home for its final MCAA match of the season. Results will be in next week's paper.
Marion may get another crack at Hillsboro Saturday as they play in the Hillsboro tournament beginning at 9 a.m.
