Betts taking her talents to Jonesboro

Betts taking her talents to Jonesboro

Marion senior joining talented ASU volleyball squad

Sports Editor After playing a vital role during three straight runs to the Class 6A state final, and a prolific career at Marion, senior outside hitter Sara Betts isn’t done yet.

Yesterday morning, Betts signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her volleyball career at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Betts, affectionately known as “Betty” to her friends and teammates, expressed a lot of excitement following her signing ceremony at Marion High School.

“I feel a lot of excitement about what lies ahead for me,” Betts says. “It’s a new journey, but it’s a fun and exciting journey. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to go there, and I’m so thankful that I’ve been given this opportunity.”

Betts was one of Marion’s key players on state runners- up teams in 2014 and 2016, and was a Class 6A state All-Tournament team selection in 2014 and 2015. That 2015 Marion team won that season’s Class 6A state title, the third in school history.

Betts’ head coach at Marion, Lisa Beasley, said that she was very proud of her soon-to-be graduate, but also expected big things from her number 20. “I’m not surprised at all,” Beasley admitted. “I’ve been so lucky over the years to have so many great players, and great people and people that just love volleyball, but Sara Betts lives it, eats it, sleeps it. She thinks about the game 24/7. I was a little worried for a while if maybe she’d even get burnt out, but I think she’s the one kid that can handle it. I’m just super duper proud of her.”

Betts cited a great relationship with her coaches at Arkansas State for helping make her decision to join the Sun Belt school easier.

“It was a really long, drawn-out process. At times, it seemed like it was lasting forever,” Betts says of her recruitment. “At Arkansas State, they’re like a family. I truly felt that when I was there, talking to coaches and some of the other girls that I’ll be playing with. I really like how we all communicate with each other on and off the court. I just felt like it was home from day 1.”

Betts’ senior season was highlighted by 345 kills in 100 sets played, an average of 3.5 per set. She added in 29 solo blocks, 131 digs and 70 aces, in what was a sensational all-around year. “Her and all the rest of that senior group just seem to bring out the best in each other,” Beasley said.

“When you’re around Betty, you know you’re about to smile and laugh.

She just seems to spread joy and happiness. I’m really gonna miss her, but she’s going to do what she loves.”

At Arkansas State, Betts’ role will be very similar to hers at Marion, as she will primarily be a hitter, a position that she excelled at as a player on the high school varsity.

“I’m listed as an outside hitter, or a pin hitter,” says the senior. “So that means, I’m on the outside or the right side.”

Arkansas State currently sits at 22-7 overall, with a stellar 14-1 mark in the Sun Belt conference.

By Chuck Livingston