WEST MEMPHIS --- Marion did not want a letdown after a dramatic five-set victory last Thursday night over Valley View that gave the Patriots the No. 1 playoff seed in this year's Class 5A state volleyball tournament, and it didn't take long to show that there wouldn't be one.
With an outright league title on the line Tuesday evening at West Memphis, Marion blitzed the Blue Devils early for a three-set victory (25-6, 25-10, and 25-17) at Lehr Arena.
Marion improved to 22-2 overall this fall, with a perfect 14-0 mark against the 5A East. The Patriots improved their winning streak to 13 consecutive games, dating to a September 6 loss to Houston at the River City Classic tournament in Bartlett, Tennessee.
The Pats stormed to an early 7-1 lead Tuesday night as Kennedy Bullins came up with a pair of kills, while Kaitlyn Austin served three consecutive aces to prop up the Marion run.
An Austin kill forced a West Memphis timeout, leading to three aces from Abbigale Simmons in a span of four points, and consecutive kills from Bullins helped Marion to a 25-6 victory in the initial set.
Marion was nails to open the second stanza, scoring the first nine points of that frame.
The run began with a pair of Blue Devil hitting errors, leading to kills from Aynslee Coad, Austin, and when Annabelle White served an ace for a 7-0 Marion lead, West Memphis called for time. A second White ace pushed the Pat lead to 9-0.
Marion took its first double-digit lead of the set (13-3) on an Izzy Fenter kill, followed by two kills by Taylor Chamness, and a block from Coad as Marion's advantage hit 17-4 before an Austin ace clinched Marion's 15-point victory in the second.
West Memphis countered Marion in the third set, never letting Marion achieve more than a three-point lead until the Pats ripped off five points in a row for a 13-7 bulge.
That run featured kills from Fenter and Coad, and an ace from Mallorie Sharp.
Following back-to-back kills by Kendall Brown and Bren Sutton for an 18-10 Marion lead, West Memphis called for time.
The Pats got kills from Fenter, Coad, and Brinkley down the stretch to close out West Memphis and earn its fourth league title in five seasons.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion travels to play Mountain Home on Tuesday, October 22, in a match that you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel. The Patriots close out their 2025 regular season at home on Thursday, October 24, at Fidelity Bank Arena against Searcy in another match that you can watch for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.
5A EAST RESULTS FROM 10/14
Marion 3, W. Memphis 0
Valley View 3, Mountain Home 1
Paragould 3, Nettleton 1
Batesville 3, Searcy 2
5A EAST STANDINGS ON 10/15
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
MARION 14-0*+
Valley View 11-3*
Greene Co. Tech 8-6
Paragould 8-6
Batesville 6-7
Mountain Home 5-6
Nettleton 4-9
Searcy 3-10
W. Memphis 0-12
*clinched playoff spot
+clinched No. 1 playoff seed
5A EAST MATCHES ON 10/16
Valley View at Nettleton
W. Memphis at Greene Co. Tech
Batesville at Paragould
Mountain Home at Searcy
Marion does not play a match