Lady Pats compete at Playday

Lady Pats compete at Playday

Marion wins pool, loses in knockout round

Sports Editor The Marion Lady Patriots spent Saturday morning and afternoon competing at the annual Playday tournament in Jonesboro.

Marion got through pool play unscathed, posting wins in straight sets against Harrisburg, Batesville and Malden, to take the top seed in the knockout round. Once there, however, Marion was dealt a stunning loss in three sets to Batesville, the 2015 Class 5A state runners-up.

It was just Marion’s second loss this season, and it made their record 21-2 overall and 11-1 in the league.

The Lady Pats will host the 2015 Class 5A state champion from Valley View tonight, beginning with a 7th-grade match at 4:30 p.m.

Marion was paced by senior Sarah Burford’s teamhigh 9 aces at Playday, while classmate Gabi Catt was next up with 6, Sara Betts checked in with 5 and Ally Bramucci and Hope Phipps handed out 3 apiece.

Senior Murray State commit Annalee Parker led the Lady Pats with 36 kills, while Betts, an Arkansas State commit, posted 34. Burford posted 19 of her own, while Catt had 16.

Bramucci was tops in assists with 63, while Catt helped out 38 times.

Phipps paced the Lady Pats with 54 digs, while Parker was in with 39 and Burford ended up with 29.

Catt led Marion in aces served against Harrisburg with 4, while Bramucci had 15 assists, and Betts and Parker tied for the top spot with 7 kills apiece. Phipps led her team with 5 digs.

Burford had the hot serving hand against Batesville in pool play, serving 3 aces, while Parker posted 12 kills, Bramucci topped out in assists with 14 and Phipps took the digs title again with 15.

The Lady Pats clinched the top seed with another sweep against Malden in a match that featured Bramucci serving Marion’s only 2 aces, while also handing out a team-high 20 assists. Parker and Betts again tied for top kill honors with 7 apiece, and Phipps checked in with 15 digs once again.

In the knockout round against Batesville, Parker led the team with 21 digs and was second with 10 kills. Burford served 4 aces and Betts was next up with 3 aces and a team-high 13 kills. Catt handed out 16 assists and Bramucci 14 and Phipps came through with 19 digs.

By Chuck Livingston