Marion takes Wamac West showdown

INDEPENDENCE - The Marion Indians made a last-ditch, first-set rally that fell a few points short.

It didn't salvage the set, but it set the tone for the match.

'I felt like that got us a little momentum going,” Marion Coach Roxanne Paulsen said after the Class 4A second-ranked Indians handled No. 12 Independence in four sets (20-25, 25-21, 25-10, 25-13) to take control of the Wamac Conference West Division volleyball race Tuesday night at Independence High School.

The Indians (16-3 overall, 5-0 Wamac West) moved into sole possession of the divisional lead.

'This was a match of big implications,” Paulsen said. 'It was big for the (divisional) race. It was big for rankings, and it was big for (postseason) seedings.”

For the majority of the first set, Independence (14-5, 4-1) was clearly the superior team. The Mustangs jumped to a 13-3 advantage, and it was 22-10 before Marion made a charge.

It wasn't enough to bring the Indians all the way back, but it did flip momentum.

'We knew this was going to be a tough match,” said Marion's Isabella Sade. 'We didn't underestimate them. That's a good team. But the way we pushed at the end of the first set, we had momentum from that point on.”

Paulsen put Sade in the front row to start the second set, matching up with Independence's Brittany Larsen and Kaitlin Niedert in the front row.

'Their two big girls, we just needed a little more over the top,” Paulsen said. 'When their big girls went to the back, it opened a window for us.”

And that led to some big runs. Kenzie Redmond converted all 29 of her service attempts, with six aces. Caitlin Smith was 24 of 24 with five aces to go along with 35 assists.

The key point at the match came midway through the second set. Smith, Morgan Swanger and Olivia Frazier all had blocks in a five-point run that put Marion in front, 18-13. Indee got within 22-21, but a kill by Sade and an ace by Smith helped close it out for the Indians.

Sade led the Indians' attack with 15 kills. Swanger added nine, Frazier eight. Marion finished with 14 aces.

Niedert paced Independence with 14 kills, four aces and four blocks.

MARION 3, INDEPENDENCE 1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-10, 25-13)

At Independence

Serving: Marion 87-94 (.926), Independence 64-69 (.928); Aces: Marion 14 (Kenzie Redmond 6), Independence 7 (Kaitlin Niedert 4); Kills: Marion 43 (Isabella Sade 15), Independence 33 (Niedert 14); Assists: Marion 36 (Caitlyn Smith 35), Independence 31 (Paige Stoner 15); Blocks: Marion 9 (four with 2), Independence 9 (Niedert 4).

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