On Monday, October 20th, the Marshall High School volleyball teams played host to the Tuscola High School Warriors in a non-conference doubleheader inside McNary Gymnasium. The Lions entered the match with a record of 20-7, while the Warriors came in with a record of 9-16.
After Marshall’s junior varsity squad was extended to three sets, during which they defeated Tuscola’s JV squad 25-11, 19-25, and 15-12, the Lions’ varsity squad came out focused as they continue to prepare for the state tournament which begins next Tuesday. During this match with Tuscola, Marshall overwhelmed the Warriors from all angles while being more active at the net blocking Tuscola strikes throughout the match. In the end, Marshall won the match in straight sets by the scores of 25-11 and 25-14, defeating Tuscola two sets to none.
The Lions got out ahead early in the first set on Harper Richardson’s serves. McKenzie Davis scored on a tip winner, then Addy Ross and Lilly Ross combined for a big block on the right side to give the home team a 3-0 lead. A kill by Lilly Ross later put the Big Red ahead 5-2 before the Warriors tied it up at 5 apiece.
Marshall won the next point on a tip winner by Ella Mattas, then the next thing you knew, Marshall outscored Tuscola 9-1 while Ella Mattas and Addy Ross served to take a commanding 15-6 lead. During the run, Ellie Delp scored a kill, then after two straight aces by Ella Mattas, Lilly Ross scored a tip winner and a kill, then Harper Richardson and Lilly Ross scored back-to-back kills which gave the Lions their huge lead at 15-6.
Marshall steadily built their lead to 15 points to go ahead 22-7 at one juncture, then they coasted to finish out the first set. Harper Richardson led the way during this stretch with 2 kills and 2 tip winners. McKenzie Davis and Ellie Delp combined on a block winner, then Harper Richardson connected on another kill to get the Lions closer to set point. Ella Matttas finally closed the door on the first set when she laced a kill from the left side, and Marshall took the first set by the score of 25-11.
Some tremendous back court play from Marshall libero Avery Cornwell, who led the team in digs, and Ali Sheets, who looks to be the Lions’ libero of the future, kept the Lions in many points when Tuscola strikers managed to get the ball through the blocks at the net. Some lengthy rallies kept the nice crowd in the gym on the edges of their seats.
During the early stages of the second set, Tuscola went ahead 4-1 with Marshall’s only point coming on a McKenzie Davis kill down the middle. With the Lions down 6-4, Ellie Delp smashed a kill and Addy Ross served an ace to knot it all up at 6. On the next point, Marshall’s Lilly Ross and Harper Richardson went up high over the net and blocked a kill attempt by Tuscola to give the Lions a 7-6 advantage. Two tip winners by Harper Richardson gave the Big Red a little breathing room with the score 10-8, then another tip by Richardson followed by a kill by McKenzie Davis maintained the Marshall lead at 13-11.
The next four points in the middle portion of the second set turned out to be the most significant points of the match to keep momentum on the Marshall side. With Lions ahead 13-11, the next serve put in play by Avery Cornwell went back and forth, then Tuscola passed the ball around and set it up for an outside strike. Marshall’s duo of Addy Ross and Lilly Ross leaped high in tandem at the net and blocked the kill to give Marshall a 14-11 lead. On the next point, Lilly Ross and Ella Mattas combined on a big block to keep the point going. The Lions then set the ball high on the left side for Ella Mattas, who drilled the ball to the floor on Tuscola’s side of the court to put the Lions ahead 15-11 as Tuscola called time out.
Coming out of the time out, Addy Ross and Lilly Ross once again combined on a big block for a point, then Harper Richardson dropped the ball over the net for another point to give Marshall a 17-11 lead. From then on, kills by Lilly Ross, Ellie Delp, and Harper Richardson put the Lions one point away from taking the match. On the next point, Ellie Delp put a stamp on the night when she struck a kill to give Marshall a 25-14 win in the second set, and the Lions swept Tuscola two sets to none.
With the win, Marshall improves their record to 21-7 on the season, while Tuscola moves to 9-17.
In the junior varsity match, Nya Engledow served an ace, while Ellie Delp scored a kill in the early going as Marshall ran out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Lilly Ross registered three kills and Aubree Shaffer struck a kill to give the Lions a 12-6 lead before Tuscola rang off three straight points to get within three at 12-9. The young Lions then hit the gas pedal, outscoring the Warriors 11-1 to make the score 23-10. During the onslaught by Marshall, Lilly Ross served ten straight points, scoring four aces during the run. McKenzie Davis scored two kills, while Ali Sheets made numerous saves along the back line to keep points alive. With Marshall serving at set point, Ali Sheets served an ace, and Marshall took the first set by the score of 25-11.
During the early stages of the second set of the JV match, Tuscola moved out to a 5-0 lead as Marshall had some issues with communication and spacing. When they finally figured it out, the Lions were behind on the scoreboard and playing catch up. Marshall managed to trim the Tuscola lead to one point with the score 13-12, but Tuscola then steadily built their lead back up, comfortably winning the second set 25-19 to set up a third and deciding set. Scoring for the Lions in the second set were Lilly Ross (ace), Ellie Delp (2 kills), McKenzie Davis (2 kills, block winner), Aubree Shaffer (2 kills, block winner), Olivia Strohm (2 kills), and Lauren Richards (ace, tip winner).
In the final set of the JV match, Nya Engledow started the Lions off with an ace, then Ellie Delp put the Marshall side ahead 2-0 with a kill. An ace by McKenzie Davis, followed by another kill by Ellie Delp, had Tuscola calling time out with Marshall ahead on the scoreboard 5-1. Tuscola came back to take the lead 7-6 while the Lions’ lone point was a kill down the middle by Olivia Strohm.
The Lions came back to tie the set, then they took a 10-8 lead on two Ellie Delp kills. With the two-point lead, Marshall’s Ali Sheets stepped up to the serving line and dialed up consecutive aces to give the Lions a 12-8 advantage. Down the stretch, Marshall got a kill from Aubree Shaffer, a tip winner from Lauren Richards, and a kill by Nya Engledow at match point. With Lexi Mason playing stellar defense along the back row, the Big Red came away with the three-set win 25-11, 19-25, and 15-12 over Tuscola.
Marshall’s junior varsity squad returns to action Tuesday night (10-21-25) at 6:00 PM when the young Lions host St. John’s (Mattoon) for a junior varsity only match inside McNary Gymnasium. Marshall’s varsity squad returns to action when they play their final match of the regular season this Thursday when they host Lawrenceville in an LIC doubleheader. It will be Senior Night for four Marshall volleyball players (Avery Cornwell, Anna Daugherty, Ella Mattas, and Addy Ross) making their final home volleyball appearance. Make sure you’re inside McNary Gym on Thursday night to honor these wonderful student athletes. The junior varsity match begins at 6:00 PM, then after Senior Night festivities, the varsity squad will battle the Indians on the court.
