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.
