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.
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.
