The Marshall High School volleyball teams traveled to Hutsonville High School to play the Hutsonville-Palestine Lady Tigers in a non-conference volleyball doubleheader. Marshall came into the match with a record of 13-6, while Hutsonville-Palestine carried a record of 6-11 on the season.
If any match was a perfect storm for a trap, this match was it. The Lions had to be physically and mentally drained, for less than 24 hours before they played a three-set match at home against St. Joe-Ogden, and the Lions rallied down the stretch in the third set to win in overtime 27-25 to win the match. This Thursday, Marshall travels to Robinson to take on the Lady Maroons in a conference tilt. Compounding the issue for Hutsonville-Palestine, the Lady Tigers were playing without middle hitter and blocker Hayden Monan, who solidifies the front line for Hut-Pal.
The experience, length, and striking ability of the Lions overwhelmed the homestanding Lady Tigers as Marshall swept Hutsonville-Palestine in straight sets by scores of 25-12 and 25-13. In the junior varsity match preceding the varsity contest, Marshall’s JV squad rolled over Hut-Pal in straight sets by scores of 25-8 and 25-9.
In the first set of the varsity match, Marshall began the set on a 7-0 run before Hutsonville-Palestine called timeout. During the onslaught, Ella Mattas scored three kills, Harper Richardson served two aces, and Avery Cornwell, who was back in the middle of the front row, scored a kill as well.
The Lions continued to storm the net with kills and crisp passing. Lilly Ross had three kills, while McKenzie Davis scored on a tip winner as well as a kill, Avery Cornwell scored again on a tip winner, and Nya Engledow served an ace. By the time the dust settled on the ambush, Marshall built a 19-5 lead. From then on, the Lions coasted to win the opening set 25-12. Individual scorers down the stretch for Marshall were Harper Richardson with a tip winner and an ace, and Ella Mattas with a kill.
At the start of Set #2, Hutsonville-Palestine got out to an early 3-0 led, but Marshall quickly tied the set at 3 with a kill by Lilly Ross. Avery Cornwell then stepped up to the serving line and served 7 straight times during which the Lions broke out ahead. During the run, Ella Mattas scored on a kill to end a long rally. Mattas later served an ace to put the Lions ahead 11-4 as Hutsonville-Palestine called another timeout.
The Lady Tigers crept closer on consecutive aces served by Kielyn Wilson, but Marshall ended the Tigers’ run when Marshall’s Lilly Ross soared high above the net and struck a kill, then Harper Richardson flew in on the right side and smashed a laser through the block for Marshall to assume a 15-9 lead.
The Lions outscored the Tigers 10-4 down the stretch to take the second set 25-13 to win the match in straight sets. Scoring for Marshall during the latter portion of the set were Avery Cornwell with a tip winner, followed by a Harper Richardson ace, another Avery Cornwell kill, an Ella Mattas kill, and finally an Avery Cornwell ace to close out the match.
In the junior varsity match, Marshall put their foot on the gas the entire match and never let Hutsonville-Palestine room to breathe in the straight set win during which the Lady Tigers didn’t reach double digits in either set. McKenzie Davis, Lilly Ross, Ali Sheets, and Aubree Shaffer each had multiple kills for Marshall. Lexi Mason and Ali Sheets patrolled the back line and passed returns to Nya Engledow and Lauren Richards well throughout. Engledow and Richards also set up strikers for multiple kills and tip winners in the two-set match.
Marshall (14-6) plays its next match this Thursday when they travel to Robinson for a LIC conference doubleheader. Junior varsity action is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM with the varsity match to follow.
The Marshall High School football team traveled to Olney to face the Richland County High School Olney Tigers in a Little Illini Conference game on Friday, September 19th. The Lions and Tigers (no Bears) came into the game with identical records of 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
Boston Rollings (54) leads Lucca Giannavola (40) around the corner. Photo by T Ray Henry.
When you look at the final stat sheet from this contest, you will see that the Lions marched up, down, and through the overhyped Olney defense all night long. Being the largest school in the LIC, which hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2023, Olney had no answer in trying to stop the Lions’ ground game. Marshall’s Lucca Giannavola rushed the ball 28 times while gaining 228 yards. When the Tigers’ defense loaded up the box to try and contain Giannavola (they never stopped him), Marshall used misdirection plays with Kaiden Sanders, Liam Keim, as well as quarterback keepers by sophomore Luke Brodie. For a change of pace, Marshall inserted sophomore running back Silas Dean, who sprinted through and around the Tigers’ defense at will. Down the stretch, freshman David Sherrell had some nice runs on the ground. Marshall’s offensive line won the line of scrimmage, pushing the Olney defensive line back seemingly on every play. When the Tigers stacked the box, the Lions would pull Boston Rollings to lead runners around through the seams.
For the game, Marshall outgained Olney on the ground with a season-high 427 yards on 52 carries to Olney’s 403. Marshall had 19 first downs to Olney’s 16. Olney had more total yards, 482 to 445, but when you examine the numbers, you would expect an extremely close game on the scoreboard. However, although the Lions had more success running the ball, a few miscues in the middle stages of the game changed the complexion as Olney defeated Marshall by the score of 57-19.
Marshall won the coin flip and elected to receive. Marshall freshman Preston Welsh gathered the opening kick and took the ball out to the Lions 31-yard line where the offense started with a first-and-ten. On the first series of downs, the Lions showed the large crowd on hand they were going to be in the fight all night long by going for it on fourth down in their own territory with the ball on their own 40. Lucca Giannavola took the 4th down handoff, and the L-Train powered his way up the middle for a Marshall first down. The drive stalled, though, and Marshall’s punt gave Olney the ball at their own 42-yard line. .
Marshall gained 427 yards on the ground vs Olney. Photo by T Ray Henry.
The Tigers methodically moved the ball down the field, but the Lions held strong, and with the ball sitting at the Marshall 18, Olney was facing a third-and-ten. On the next play, Olney’s Gavyn Cothern found Ian Pianfetti in the left corner of the end zone for an Olney touchdown. After the extra point kick was good, Olney led 7-0 with 5:01 to go in the first quarter.
Marshall began the ensuing drive at their own 20, and in just two running plays from scrimmage, the first by Kaiden Sanders and the second by Liam Keim, the Lions moved all the way to the Olney 29-yard line with a first-and-ten. On the next play, Lucca Giannavola ran off tackle to the right, and it took five Olney defenders to bring him to the ground. Three plays later, Giannavola ran up the middle from the 5-yard line for a Lions touchdown, and after Trip Gaines kicked the extra point, the game was tied up at 7 apiece with 2:17 to go in the opening quarter.
Lucca Giannavola (40) turns the corner and gains yardage against Olney. Photo by T Ray Henry.
Three of the Lions’ miscues happened over the next 5 minutes of play which altered the entire course of play. On the kickoff after Giannavola’s touchdown, Olney ran the kickoff back to the house when Marshall lost lane integrity, and with the extra point good, Olney led 14-7. When Marshall got the ball back, they drove all the way down the field where they had a first-and-goal from the Olney 10-yard line. A high snap, followed by a small gain, then an offsides call on Olney’s defense moved the ball to the Tiger 5. On the next play, Olney jumped on a loose ball, and what could have been the tying touchdown turned into a critical turnover. Olney took advantage of the situation and drove 83 yards to paydirt to take a 21-7 lead with 8:55 to go in the first half.
The Olney crowd, which has witnessed recent success on the gridiron since the Tigers went from the basement of the Apollo Conference to the upper echelon of the Little Illini Conference in 2012, expected an easy rout, but they did not count on the fight of the Big Red. Certainly, being the largest school in the LIC has its benefits in being able to have more players who play just one way, but the opposite side of the coin is whether there is a benefit of playing schools three and four times smaller. Everything matters when preparing a team for the IHSA playoffs come late October. A little research of Olney’s record since moving into the LIC shows significant data. In the 13 years since making the move from the Apollo to the LIC, Olney has made the Class 4A playoffs 9 times. Of those nine trips to the state playoffs, they’ve won a playoff game only once (last year at home against a 5-4 Kewanee team before the Tigers were demolished by Normal University High the following week).
Silas Dean (6) breaks open through the right right side against Olney. Photo by T Ray Henry.
Getting back to the game, Marshall took the ensuing kickoff and kept riding the L-Train behind the O-Line down the field as Olney’s defense was getting gassed and had to make multiple defensive substitutions on the drive. The drive culminated in another Lucca Giannavola touchdown, this time from 3 yards out, and Marshall was suddenly down by one score (21-13) with just under four minutes to go before halftime. Olney tacked on another score with a half-minute to go before the break, and the first half ended with Olney leading by the score of 28-13.
In the second half, the depth of Olney extended their lead, but the Lions still gained yardage on the ground and scored another touchdown by Lucca Giannavola from 8 yards out in the fourth quarter. Olney scored a couple meaningless touchdowns down the stretch to make the score seem like the game was an easy win, but those in attendance will take away that these Lions are on the right track, and their goals are still there in front of them. One big note to take from this game was the stellar defensive play of Josef Stafford, who won his position battle against University of Illinois signee Casey Thomann, who stands 6’7” and tips the scales at 325. Stafford carried Thomann all around the field throughout the contest and finished with a team-high 10 tackles. Thomann even hugged Joe many, many times during the action. Outplaying a D-1 athlete on the field of battle can only propel Josef to dominate on defense as we move forward in the season.
Overall, the squad came out of the game with only a couple nicks here and bruises there as the Lions turn the page to their homecoming game at Bush Field against Robinson on Friday, September 26th. Kickoff for that game is set for 7:00 PM. Let’s fill the stands at Bush Field and support our student athletes.
Marshall stats:
Lucca Giannavola (28 carries for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns)
Liam Keim (7 carries for 48 yards and 2 receptions for 12 yards))
David Sherrell (3 carries for 36 yards)
Silas Dean (2 carries for 35 yards)
Kaiden Sanders (1 carry for 6 yards, 5 receptions for 40 yards)
Luke Brodie (7-11 passing for 52 yards, 7 carries for 32 yards)
In the annals of the Marshall High School volleyball program, the Lions have experienced a statement win each season which becomes ingrained in the mind. During the high school careers of Marshall seniors Addy Ross, Ella Mattas, Avery Cornwell, and Anna Daugherty, each season has had at least one match where the Lions played brilliant volleyball together and brought their fans along for the ride to win each tough match in three sets. During their freshman season, an incredible comeback in the regional semifinal round of the state tournament against Teutopolis propelled Marshall to finally take down the Wooden Shoes after years of trying to beat T-Town.
Two years ago, a come-from-behind rally at Casey-Westfield gave the Lions a huge win in another match that went the full distance. Last season, a memorable evening inside McNary Gymnasium had the Lions facing perennial power Effingham St. Anthony’s, and, you guessed it, another three-setter had the Lions raising the roof in the Mac in front of the largest crowd to witness a volleyball match in Marshall in many years. In the end, Marshall took down St. Anthony’s to the delight of a very vocal student section.
Avery Cornwell scores for the Lions. Photo by T Ray Henry.
On Monday, September 22nd, the Lions volleyball team played host to the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans inside McNary Gymnasium in a non-conference doubleheader on Construction Night for the Marshall student body.
In the brief history of volleyball played between the two schools which spans the past three seasons, St. Joe-Ogden won all three matches in straight sets. This evening, Marshall was determined to end the streak and put an asterisk next to a statement win during the 2025 season. Coming in with a record of 12-6, the Lions have already equaled the previous season’s win total, and the Spartans were standing in their way of breaking through with their 13th win of the season.
In a thrilling match between two solid teams, the old gym had a late October state tournament feel rather than a late September Monday night non-conference match feel. The atmosphere inside the Marshall High School gymnasium was absolutely electric, particularly in the third set which went back and forth the entire set which went to overtime. With two teams refusing to lose down the stretch, it felt more like a heavyweight title bout. With multiple momentum swings, some fantastic play, great blocking and striking, some unforced errors, and perseverance on both sides, Marshall survived two match points before pulling ahead and sealing the deal by defeating St. Joe-Ogden in three sets by the scores of 22-25, 25-14, and 27-25.
Marshall made a notable change in the lineup before this match. Senior Avery Cornwell, who has been a middle blocker and middle hitter her entire high school career, was converted to play the position of Libero, and Cornwell played extremely well in solidifying the back line of the Lions’ defense. McKenzie Davis replaced Cornwell as middle blocker and middle hitter, and she also managed her assignment very well, being very active both offensively and defensively at the net.
In Set #1, the Lions took a little time to get settled as the Spartans jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. Marshall head coach Sarah Morgan called time out to calm the nerves of the players, and when they returned to the court, Marshall crept back into the set with two kills scored by Harper Richardson, a kill scored by Ellie Delp, and an ace served by Lilly Ross. With setters Addy Ross and Harper Richardson interchanging in the middle to set up Lions hitters, St. Joe-Ogden took some time to adjust to the two-setter lineup. By that time, Marshall trimmed St. Joe-Ogden’s five-point lead with a 7-3 run of their own to get within one point with the score 10-9.
A tip winner from Harper Richardson, a kill from Ella Mattas, and consecutive kills by Lilly Ross gave Marshall its first lead of the set at 16-15 as St. Joe-Ogden called timeout to try and stop the Big Red’s momentum. St. Joe-Ogden went up by two at 19-17 before Ellie Delp and Harper Richardson scored back-to-back tip winners to tie it up at 19. The visitors went up by three at 23-20 before Marshall’s Ella Mattas and McKenzie Davis combined on a block for a point to bring the Lions within two at 23-21. After St. Joe’s scored another point to make it 24-21, Marshall’s McKenzie Davis scored a big point on a tip winner that landed in an open spot, and the Lions were down two at 24-22. St. Joe’s, however, scored the next point to win the opening set 25-22.
Marshall flipped on the switch in Set #2 by racing out to a 7-1 lead on two kills by Ella Mattas to begin the set, followed by an ace served by Harper Richardson, a kill by McKenzie Davis, and an ace served by Avery Cornwell. With the Lions comfortably in front, they worked on their passing and setting game, moving the ball inside and out, and at times setting Cornwell up for hits from the back row. Methodically, the Lions extended their lead to 10 points in the middle portion of the set, and they maintained their lead to beat the Spartans in Set #2 by the score of 25-14 to set up a third and deciding set. Also scoring for Marshall during the second set were Harper Richardson with two tip winners, two kills, and an ace; an ace and a kill by Lilly Ross, a kill by Ella Mattas, a tip winner by McKenzie Davis, and a kill by Ellie Delp. Richardson and Addy Ross were working seamlessly setting up hitters on both sides of the court to keep the Spartans off-balance. With the match tied at one set apiece, the match moved to a final set to 25 to decide the winner. Or so we thought…
To describe what happened during the third set between the Spartans and the Lions, you had to be inside McNary Gymnasium to realize what you were watching. 14 ties, 7 lead changes, countless rallies, digs, saves, marvelous play at the net – it was breathtaking. Buckle up.
St. Joe’s scored the first point of the final set before Marshall tied it up at 1 with a Harper Richardson tip winner. The Spartans went up by 2 at 3-1 before Marshall’s Ella Mattas scored on consecutive kills to tie it up at 3. Marshall then went ahead 4-3 on a kill by Addy Ross. St. Joe’s tied it at 4 before Lilly Ross dialed up consecutive kills and Ellie Delp followed with another kill for the Lions to take a 7-4 lead as St. Joe’s called timeout.
Marshall maintained their 3-point lead when Lilly Ross served an ace to make the score 10-7, but St. Joe’s came right back and tied the set at 10 as Marshall called a timeout. Coming out of the T/O, Marshall got a huge kill from Avery Cornwell from behind the attack line to push the Lions in front 11-10. St. Joe’s came right back on the next point to tie it up at 11, then the teams tied again at 12 and 13. The Lions leveled it up at 13 when Ella Mattas scored another kill.
With the set knotted up at 13, Avery Cornwell served up an ace to move the Lions ahead by one at 14-13 before the Spartans got a side out to tie it back up at 14. Marshall inched back out in front again 15-14 when Ella Mattas once again scored a kill from the left side of the court. A combination block for a point scored by Killy Ross and Ellie Delp highlighted the next series of plays to give Marshall an 18-17 lead, but St. Joe’s scored three straight points to take a 20-18 lead as the Spartans fans smelled blood in the water.
The Lions won the next point on a side out to make it 20-19 Spartans, then Marshall’s Anna Daugherty stepped up to the serving line and served an ace to tie it up at 20 apiece as the Marshall side roared. St. Joe’s responded by scoring three straight points to go ahead 23-20, but Ela Mattas struck a kill to trim the Lions’ deficit to two points with the score 23-21. The Lions won the next point when St. Joe’s made an unforced error, and we now had a one-point set with the score 23-22 in favor of St. Joe’s, who immediately called timeout as the home crowd raised the decibel level in the gym.
On Marshall’s next serve, the ball went back and forth over the net with some fantastic play on both sides of the court. The point ended when Marshall’s McKenzie Davis faked a strike and tipped the ball over the outstretched arms of two Spartan blockers, and the ball landed harmlessly on St. Joe’s side of the net. The point tied the set at 23, and the Lions student section was screaming for a win.
On the next point, St. Joe’s won the point at the net, and the Spartans were serving for match point with the score 24-23. The next point was a classic that ended when Marshall’s Ella Mattas smashed a kill to tie the set at 24. After St. Joe’s won the next point, they were once again serving for the match ahead 25-24. The Lions and Spartans battled on the next point, which ended when a Spartan strike didn’t clear the net, and for the 14th time in the third and deciding set, they were all tied up at 25.
The Lions seized the opportunity, for on the next point, Marshall’s Lilly Ross scored a tip winner to give the home side a one-point lead at 26-25. With Ella Mattas serving the next point, Ellie Delp scored a huge kill to give Marshall a 27-25 win in the third set. With the marathon victory in Set #3, Marshall defeated St. Joe-Ogden two sets to one, sending local fans home knowing the kids gave it their all in winning their 13th match of the season against 6 losses.
In the junior varsity match between Marshall and St. Joe-Ogden, the JV squads also went the distance by playing three sets. Marshall played very well together in the first set to win by the score of 25-22, but the momentum of winning the first set did not sustain through the second or third sets as St. Joe-Ogden won the junior varsity match two sets to one. Passing and setting proved to give the young Lions trouble, but they get a quick turnaround to put this match behind them. Scoring for the JV squad were McKenzie Davis, Lauren Richards, Aubree Shaffer, Lilly Ross, Nya Engledow, Lexi Mason, Ali Sheets, and Olivia Strohm.
Marshall plays their next match tonight (Tuesday, September 23rd) when the Lions travel to Hutsonville to take on the Hutsonville-Palestine Tigers. Junior Varsity action is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM with the varsity match to follow.
Start Saturday, September 20th, 2025 by fueling up at the Rotary Club’s annual Pancake Breakfast! Before the Autumn Fest parade starts, stop by Rudy’s Marshall Family Restaurant, located at 701 Archer Avenue in Marshall.
The pancake breakfast will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Free will donations will be accepted.
Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through [the] fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
Marshall’s annual fall festival Autumn Fest will be held Friday through Sunday, September 19, 20, and 21, 2025. The weekend will be full of activities around the Clark County Courthouse square and elsewhere. There will be live music, vendors, cake walks, the Autumn Fest Prince and Princess Coronation, the Autumn Fest Parade, Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show and much more!
For the full schedule and more information about Autumn Fest, visit: marshallautumnfest.com
Kick off the excitement early with WMMC at our Friday Night Football Tailgate Party at the Lions practice field parking lot! Host Joey O’Rourke will broadcast live from 5 to 7 p.m. with lots of great giveaways!
Thanks to our sponsors – Casey State Bank, Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and WMMC, we’ll be giving away footballs, can koozies, hand fans, tickets to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, and FOUR – four ticket family paks to Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari!
Can’t make it to the game in-person? Don’t worry! You can listen LIVE on WMMC Radio 105.9 FM, online at wmmcradio.com or WATCH LIVE on our YouTube Channel with exclusive interviews with Marshall Lions Head Coach Steve Weber and play-by-play commentary by Joey O’Rourke and Derek Eitel.
Marshall Masonic Lodge 133 invites you to an exhilarating experience in its first annual Turkey Shoot Charity Competition on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The event will be held at the Clark County Sportsman Club shooting range located at 17905 N 1800th St, Marshall, Illinois 62441.
There will be door prizes, cash pot shots, hunting prizes, turkeys, hams, and bacon prizes and much more.
12 Gauge only. All ammunition will be provided by Marshall Masonic Lodge 133. No outside ammunition will be allowed.
Registration fees will vary per event. Limited slots are available, so register soon. Pre-register via this Google Doc.
Former Handy Writers Colony author John Bowers passed away on August 17, 2025 in New York City. He was raised in Johnson, Tennessee, and came to the Handy Writers Colony after graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1951.
In 1971, his book The Colony was published by E.P. Dutton in New York. The work recounts the lives and personalities of the Handy Writers Colony in Marshall, blending firsthand observation with narrative reconstruction.
While it reads much like a novel, Bowers himself acknowledged that it is “perhaps slightly fictionalized,” using reconstructed dialogue and selectively shaped episodes to create a compelling story. Today, it is best understood as a semi-fictionalized memoir—a vivid, interpretive portrait of a unique literary community rather than a purely invented work of fiction.
Learn more about John Bowers through his obituary at Legacy.com, or through his website and explore the Handy Writers’ Colony on Wikipedia.
Mr. Bowers is also mentioned on the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce website post about the Handy Colony Walldog Mural.
