Warriors defeat Centre Cougars, 2-0

Marion High School volleyball team finished third Saturday in its Spikefest tournament.

Marion went 4-2 throughout the tournament in the 8-team field, posting wins over Sterling and Centre in pool play.

The Warriors’ hopes at a title took a step backwards in their second game of the day, dropping 25-17 and 25-19 games to eventual champion Lyons.

The team had a tough start in the first match against the Sterling Black Bears.

After a seesaw battle in the first set, the Warriors pulled away for a 25-21 win in front of an energized Marion High student section.

The second set began the same way with both teams juggling the lead, but it was Sterling that outlasted the Warriors in a hard- fought battle to force a third set with a 26-24 win.

The Black Bears were the only team to last more than two sets with Marion, but once the Warriors got over the hill in the third set, they sailed away to a 25-18 win.

Everything Marion was able to do in the first match was hard to come by in its second against Lyons and all-tournament players Daci Stover and Katrina Head.

One week removed from a 2-1 loss against Centre in the Centre tournament, the Warriors exacted some revenge on the Cougars, with 25-15 and 25-14 wins to wrap up pool play.

With Lyons unbeaten in pool play and Marion with one loss, the Warriors had to face eventual runner-up Halstead in the semifinals.

The Dragons were too tough with the play from all-tournament selections, Karenna Gerber and Briana Winkel upending the Warriors by 25-21 and 25-17 scores.

Marion bounced back in the third-place game to top Eureka with 25-21 and 25-14 wins.

Lyons had no trouble with Halstead, winning in two sets, 25-12, and 25-14.

Jayden May secured all-tournament team honors as Marion boosted its record to 5-7 on the season.

The Warriors are in action Thursday for a quad at Moundridge.