When you take a gander at the 2026 Marshall High School volleyball team’s schedule and match results, one commonality that stands out has been the number of Lions matches which have gone to three sets. In the first half of the season, 50% of Marshall’s matches have gone to a third and deciding set (8 of 16), including all three pool play matches in the Robinson tournament and both medal round matches in the Shelbyville tournament.
On Tuesday, September 15th, the Lions were once again tested in a three-set match, this time as they hosted Clark County rival Martinsville on Jersey Night for Marshall students inside McNary Gymnasium. Marshall came into the match with a record of 11-5, while Martinsville came in with a record of 6-6.
In the varsity match, Marshall dominated the first and third sets to defeat Martinsville 25-14, 22-25, and 25-16. In junior varsity match, Marshall prevailed in a close, competitive match in three sets 26-24, 18-25, and 15-13.
In the early stage of the opening set of the varsity match, the Lions had a one-point lead at 6-5 on the heels of three Haper Richardson points (2 tip winners and a kill) and an ace served by Ali Sheets. Two points later, a combo block by Libby Huisinga and Lilly Ross ignited a 14-3 run by Marshall which made the score 20-8. The Bluestreaks had difficulty getting strikes through Marshall’s front line of Lily Shotts, McKenzie Davis, Ellie Delp, Harper Richardson, and Lilly Ross. Scoring for the Lions during the big run were Lilly Ross with 3 kills, 2 aces, and a block for a point, Harper Richardson with a tip winner and 2 kills, Libby Huisinga with a block point, and McKenzie Davis with a kill. During one stretch, Lilly Ross served 8 consecutive points for the Lions. Marshall later closed out the opening set to win 25-14. A tip winner by McKenzie Davis and a kill by Harper Richardson accounted for Marshall’s individual points.
In the second set, a combo block by Lily Shotts and Lilly Ross got the scoring started. A kill by McKenzie Davis, two kills by Lilly Ross, an ace served by Ali Sheets, and back-to back kills by Harper Richardson and Lilly Ross, respectively, had the Lions leading the Bluestreaks 8-3.
Martinsville then made a charge and got within one point with the score 10-9 before Marshall’s Lilly Ross scored a kill and Libby Huisinga served consecutive aces for the Lions to lead 13-9. The teams traded points as Lilly Ross connected on another kill for Marshall to maintain their four-point lead at 14-10.
The Bluestreaks then made another charge, scoring 5 straight points to take a 15-14 lead. The Lions responded by going back into the lead, and after a big kill by Lilly Ross, Marshall had a 20-17 lead as Martinsville called time out. Another kill by Lilly Ross and a combo block by Ross and Libby Huisinga kept the Lions ahead by three with the score 22-19, but all that momentum that generated excitement in the crowd quickly turned, for Martinsville rang off six straight points to win the second set 25-22 and send the match to a third and deciding set.
In the final set, Martinsville led 3-1 before Marshall’s Lilly Ross ripped a kill and McKenzie Dacis served an ace to tie it up at 3. The Lions then outscored the Bluestreaks 13-3 to take a commanding 16-6 lead. The Marshall run began when Lily Shotts tipped a winner over the Martinsville defense, then Shotts and Harper Richardson combined on a block at the net on the right side of the floor. A Harper Richardson tip winner, followed by a Richardson winner into the far corner of the Martinsville court, a kill by Lilly Ross, three aces served by Harper Richardson, and a combo block by Lilly Ross and Libby Huisinga led the charge. Of note: Harper Richardson served nine consecutive points during this stretch for Marshall.
After a side out for Martinsville, Marshall came right back on Ellie Delp’s serve and extended their lead to 14 points with the score 21-7. Delp served back-to-back aces, while Lilly Ross (block) and Libby Huisinga (kill) also scored for the Big Red.
Marshall’s final two points were scored by Lily Shotts and Harper Richardson, both with tip winners, and Marshall won the third set 25-16 to win the match two sets to one.
Statistical Highlights
Aces - Richardson 4, Ross 2, Sheets 2, Delp 2, Huisinga 2
Kills - Richardson 14, Ross 9, Davis 3
Blocks - Ross 6, Shotts 4, Huisinga 3
Assists - Ross 17, Richardson 6
Digs - Ross 6, Davis 6, Sheets 5
In the JV contest, Marshall came out solid to begin their match against a Martinsville JV squad coming in off a win the previous night against Casey-Westfield. The Lions broke out to lead 10-5 after Aubrie Ockerman served three straight aces to pace Marshall. Libby Huisinga recorded a kill, and Lauren Richards served an ace and scored on a tip winner.
Marshall kept their 5-point lead at 17-12 as Libby Huisinga scored multiple kills, blocks, and tip winners along the way. Marshall led 19-12 before Martinsville came storming back by outscoring the Lions 12-5 and tie the set at 24. Lexi Mason served an ace for Marshall to stop Martinsville’s momentum at one point during the Bluestreak run.
With the set tied up at 24, Marshall got a side out, then Libby Huisinga scored a kill for the Lions to take the opening set by the score of 26-24.
Libby Huisinga, Aubree Shaffer, Breck Bishop, and Lauren Richards each scored for the Lions in the second set, but Martinsville dialed in the points to win 25-18 and send the match to a third set to decide a winner.
In a third set where both teams refused to lose, Martinsville led 9-5 before Marshall went on a 5-1 run to tie the set at 10. Lexi Mason (winner and an ace), Libby Huisinga (2 kills), Allie Thompson (kill), and Breck Bishop (tip winner, block) scored for the Lions to get back in the set.
Both teams then went back and forth with some great volleys to gain ties at 11, 12, and 13. With the score tied at 13, Marshall’s Libby Huisinga scored a huge kill to give the home team a one-point lead at 14-13, then Huisinga served an ace at match point to give the Lions a hard fought 15-13 win in the third set, giving Marshall the match two sets to one.
Marshall (12-5) plays their next match this Thursday night when they host Class 2A Number 8 ranked and once-beaten Effingham St. Anthony inside McNary Gymnasium and gauge where they stand against one of the top volleyball teams in the state of Illinois at the midway point of the season. Junior varsity action is set to begin at 6:00 PM, with the varsity match to follow. Let’s fill the gym for this special group of Marshall student athletes and get loud.
Harper Richardson (3) tips a winner during the Lions three-set win over Martinsville
Lilly Ross (2) goes up and scores a kill for Marshall against Martinsville
McKenzie Davis serves the final point of the match between Marshall and Martinsville won by the Lions in three sets
Marshall's Breck Bishop (L) smashes a kill against Martinsville in JV action