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E-mail This StoryAfter chugging along to a 25-18 victory in the first game of its non-district volleyball match against Arlington Lamar, Marcus’ Lady Marauders hit a pot hole in the second game.
Lamar taking full advantage of Marcus’ lackadaisical play won the second game, 25-17.
But, Marcus survived the glitch winning the next two games, 25-16, 25-13, to take the match.
“We were really passive in that second game,” Marcus coach Cristie Liles said. “We weren’t aggressive or assertive. We weren’t finishing. We weren’t hitting to spots.”
With the score tied at 14, Lamar went on a six-point run that all but put the game away. Marcus helped things along with four errors that led to points.
“They got on a scoring run and that gives them confidence,” Liles said. “You can’t open the door to a team like them.”
Marcus regained its swagger in the next two games to finish off the Lady Vikings.
In the fourth game, the Lady Marauders jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Marcus used a five-point run to pull ahead, 17-12. Marcus finished out the game behind an ace by Lyndi Johnson, two kills from Michelle Hundt and a pair of powerful blocks.
Johnson who had six of her game-high 13 kills in the final game drew praise from Liles for her efforts.
“Lyndi did well,” she said. “She has been struggling. I was glad to see her get back into the rhythm.”
Also drawing notice from Liles was setter Bridget McCormick (13 assists).
“She was more consistent than she was over the week. She was more aggressive,” Liles said.
Hundt finished with 10 kills and 13 digs. Lauren Cooke led the team with 16 assists.
Middle blocker Haley Neisler contributed a career-high six blocks, a total Liles estimated could be a school record. Fellow middle blocker Bailey Bunting had five blocks and three kills.
Friday, the Lady Marauders open pool play at Allen Texas Open. Marcus’ pool opponents include Lake Highlands, Dallas Bishop Lynch and Duncanville.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament,” Liles said. “Lake Highlands, who won the Duncanville Tournament, is in our pool. So we are going to get all we want from the get go.”
Marcus finishes fourth at Duncanville
The Lady Marauders second day at the Duncanville Tournament of Champions didn’t turn out the way they expected as they lost both matches Saturday to finish fourth.
In the semifinals, Amarillo defeated Marcus, 25-18, 25-23. The Lady Marauders lost to Austin Westlake in the third place match, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20.
“We played two quality teams,” Liles said. “It was comforting to know they didn’t beat us as much as our errors beat us. We weren’t over-matched.”
