Quick! How many years has Senior High Volleyball Coach Lisa Beasley been at Marion? Would you believe 14!!!  YES! 14!! The overall Patriot volleyball program at Marion has been very successful and Coach Beasley expects the same success for the 2009 Senior High Volleyball Team.

An unexpected loss last year in the quarter finals of the 2008 State Tournament was a disappointing end to the season. The Lady Patriots finished with a 10-2 conference record and as conference champion runner up. The team has lost seniors Monica Eubanks and All-State performer Jessica Winfrey. Coach Beasley says filling the spot vacated by Winfrey will be difficult. "Those are some big shoes to fill," said Coach Beasley.

She and long time Assistant Coach Shayla Williams are very optimistic about the 2009 season as practice has already begun and the team has attended volleyball camp this summer. Seniors Jacquia Bell and Mallory Burnett will serve as Co-Captains this year. Bell earned All-State honors in 2008 and Burnett was All-Conference. Ashley Counce will return with her consistent play while All-Conference Sarah Wilson is back to run the offense. They are both seniors with great experience and will be counted on heavily this season. Also seeing time on the court will be juniors Karla Ann Norton, Taylor Sinclair and Angel Messer. Norton is a lefty and hitting the ball well, while Messer will split some time with Burnett at the libero position. Beasley is also excited about the height and power of sophomores Harley Strayhorn and Emily Burns. "The have been hitting the ball with power, and Burns is probably the most improved on the team."

Beasley says the strengths of the team are their strong hitters and their serving while the weakness may shot up on their overall defense. When asked who her team's biggest rival was, Beasley mentioned Jonesboro and Mountain Home, but commented, "West Memphis is always a good match with big exciting crowds."

She also said their teams goals are pretty obvious...be successful...win conference...win state, but added she would love to go undefeated at home and hopes her team can go injury free. She believes this team works very well together and has good team chemistry which is a must to be successful. The state tournament is an hour away this year in Jonesboro, and it appears the Lady Patriots could be there hunting for a State Championship.

Junior High Volleyball Ready for New Season

A huge challenge for the Jr. High Patriot Volleyball team is simply to remain as successful as they have been in the past, but that is not a simple task. There is always room to improve but, Jr. High Head Coach Lucy Sislo's teams have been a dominate force in the 6A Conference by being District Champs for 5 out of the past 6 years and is assisted by Coach Shayla Williams. They expect the same results for the 2009 season.

The team will be without All-Conference Emily Burns and All-Conference/Tournament MVP Harley Strayhorn as they have moved up to senior high, but Coach Sislo says she is excited about her 2009 team. "Allie Altemus and Raven Stevens are returning All-Conference players" commented Sislo. With returning ninth grader Hanna Zachary and the addition of ninth graders Zane Carter, Malisha McCray along with returning eighth graders Morgan Jones and Kayla Winfrey, it sounds like this team has a solid foundation. Zachary will see playing time as the team's setter and Stevens will play the libero position.

Coach Sislo says the team's strengths are in their overall consistency, their defense and depth. "We have eight solid players that I feel comfortable with any time they are on the court." Sislo says. What a great luxury but, she says the team needs to improve their offence skills to really be a dominant force in conference. Sislo commented she had intentionally provided her team with a difficult schedule recognizing that her team will improve more by playing better competition.

Conference rivals include McArthur, Nettleton and Annie Camp. Valley View also provides great competition. The teams to watch this year are Annie camp and McArthur. When asked to share her goals for the team, Coach Sislo stated the obvious; go undefeated, win conference and win district, but added she would like to win the Cyclone Classic in Jonesboro and the Jr High Tournament in Valley View. Yes, for this team, these are realistic goals. She also said she wants to see her players develop their skills, improve over the season and would also like to see some leaders emerge.

Jr. High District is right down the road in West Memphis this year beginning October 17 and the Jr High Patriots volleyball team should be right in the mix for yet another district championship. Good luck Ladies!