Article and photos by T Ray Henry
On Tuesday, September 8th, the Marshall High School volleyball team traveled to Oblong for their second road match in as many nights to play the Oblong High School Lady Panthers at Oblong Elementary School. Marshall entered the contest with a record of 6-2, while Oblong came in with a record of 5-7.
These two same squads played one another in the opening round of the Robinson tournament three days ago, with Marshall coming out on top in a three-set match. If history is any indication, playing an opponent so soon after beating them provides the vanquished with extra incentive to even the score. In fact, had Oblong beaten Marshall this past Saturday morning, combined with the way the tournament played out through the afternoon, the Lions would have been playing for 7th place and not for the tournament championship. The margin of victory at this level is so slim that a run here or a mistake there can turn out to be the paper-thin difference between winning and losing.
After Marshall won the opening set 25-20, the Lions had a chance to win the second set when they held a 24-22 lead. Oblong turned the tables from that point and won four straight points to win the set 26-24 to send the match to a third and deciding set. In the third set, Marshall held a 21-19 lead before Oblong rang off six straight points to win the set 25-21 and take the match two sets to one.
Overall, it was simply Oblong’s night and not Marshall’s - that’s high school sports in a nutshell. After the upset, Panthers coach Pam Johnson told a gathering of Oblong parents waiting for their daughters in the lobby that this match was the best her team has ever played. Catching Marshall on an off night created a perfect storm, and even though the Lions were lethargic throughout the match, they had a chance to win in straight sets. Finishing the deal is a trait this team has to acquire going forward. Learning a lesson the hard way may be just what the doctor ordered, because this match served as Marshall’s final tune-up before conference play, and in the big picture, it will not affect the conference standings or tournament seedings so long as this one hiccup doesn’t linger into more if the Lions don’t put tonight in the rear-view mirror and chock it up as an anomaly. The best lesson learned from tonight was that this team now knows when a motivated opponent has you coming into their gym, in front of their classmates, families, and fans, you’re going to get their best effort no matter what the records are or what you did in your last meeting. You’ve got to bring your A game each and every time out there on the court.
Marshall scorers included Harper Richardson, Lilly Ross, Lily Shotts, McKenzie Davis, Lauren English, Ali Sheets, Libby Huisinga, and Nya Engledow, who served four straight points to close out the opening set, including two aces.
Statistical Highlights....
Aces - Davis 3, Engledow 2, Richardson 1, Sheets 1
Kills - Richardson 14, Ross 12, Davis 3
Assists - Ross 16, Richardson 13
Blocks - Ross 6, Richardson 1
Digs - Sheets 19, Davis 11, Richardson 10, Ross 9
The junior varsity match also went to a third and deciding set after Oblong won the first set 25-23 and Marshall won the second set 26-24. In the third set, Oblong won 15-11 to win the match two sets to one.
Scoring for Marshall’s JV squad included Lauren Richards, Aubree Shaffer, Libby Huisinga, Allie Thompson, Olivia Strohm, and Breck Bishop.
Marshall (6-3) plays their next match this Thursday night when they travel to Mount Carmel for the first conference match of the season. JV action begins at 6:00 PM with the varsity match to follow.
Libby Huisinga (L) and Harper Richardson (R) battle Oblong at the net
Lilly Ross laces a kill through the Oblong defense
Harper Richardson (3) shoots a kill between two Oblong defenders at the net
Marshall's Lauren English (5) strikes from the left side against Oblong
Lily Shotts hits a winner for Marshall