News editor
Weather delays don’t usually affect indoor sports like volleyball, and such was the end result for Marion’s team that won the Centre invitational tournament Saturday.
But the tournament didn’t start that way.
“We had a lot of tired girls coming into today,” coach Brea Campbell said. “They went and supported the football team last night.”
The Warriors’ game at Inman was delayed for more than two hours by lightning.
As the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the Lady Warriors drew No. 8 Life Prep Academy of Wichita, and in spite of sleepy eyes won easily 25-4, 25-6.
“I think starting off with that easy game built them up a bit,” Campbell said.
Marion didn’t lose a game across the five matches it played, taking down Rural Vista, Centre, and Herington on the way to a championship match win over Berean Academy 25-16, 25-12.
The tournament wasn’t completely smooth sailing, as occasional lulls let opponents go on scoring streaks to pull close, but the team always found a spark to shut them down.
“It’s kind of like we all click,” she said. “Once we get that one kill, we run off that momentum.”
Good defense was the key to weathering the storms, Campbell said.
“Our defense was so much better today, even from what it was Tuesday,” she said. “We did not let up. Those girls came out to play, they knew exactly where they needed to be and they were there. They were more scrappy than we’ve been.”
Some player rotations are stronger offensively than others, which could account for some of the dry spells, Campbell said. But the team also benefits.
“Each rotation is strong at something different; it throws people off,” she said. “I think it’s awesome. You want a team like that that’s going to mix it up, and that’s what they do.”
Marissa Jacobson has developed into a true offensive threat, particularly when she rotates into the middle front position, where she rained down spikes to all angles.
“Marissa is killing it on the front row,” Campbell said. “She’s putting everything down, she’s blocking people, she’s not letting anything past her.”
The Lady Warriors were focused on a home triangular match Tuesday, but Hansen admitted there was some excitement looking ahead to Saturday’s annual Marion Spikefest tournament.
“A lot more people come from Marion, so it’s a time to show off for them,” she said.