As impressive as the Marion Patriot volleyball team has been through five outings in 2021, last night's performance against Searcy at Fidelity Bank Arena may have been the team's crowning achievement so far. Marion (5-1 overall, 3-0 5A-East) slammed Searcy in straight sets (25-8, 25-6 and 25-11), highlighted by a stretch between the first and second sets where it scored 21 of 23 points. "I was happy that we played consistently throughout this one," said Marion coach Lisa Beasley. "I'm extremely proud of our effort, the energy this team exudes, and the family atmosphere this group of kids has formed." Adding intrigue to the Searcy tilt was junior Kelsey Baker drawing her first varsity start at libero following an injury to senior Madison Keith. Baker responded by playing some stifling defense on the back row and serving consecutive aces in the third set. "I couldn't be more proud of Kelsey stepping up tonight. She really played well," said Beasley. "We knew she was more than capable of playing there because she's a natural athlete and playmaker." Senior Anna Caroline Fesmire pounded 10 kills and dished out 12 assists while senior Daedrianna Cail, who committed on Tuesday to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, logged 14 kills and served three aces. Senior Kora Wilson posted eight kills while senior Lauryn Keith logged 18 assists. Marion sprinted from the blocks in the first set, scoring five of the first six, and eight of the first 11 points, to force Searcy's first timeout. The Patriots took their first double-digit lead (14-4) when Lauryn Keith lofted a textbook pass for a Kiah Rucker kill. An ace by senior Emerson Miller forced Searcy's second stoppage. Five Patriots recorded kills to close out the first set, the last one by senior Meredith Williams setting the 25-8 final. The beginning of the second set was a Marion jam session where Cail, Williams and senior Kiara Ledezma posted kills and Wilson served an ace to stake the hosts to a 7-0 lead as Searcy called for time. Cail and Ledezma's second kills of the set gave Marion a 10-0 advantage before the Lions cracked the scoreboard. Wilson accounted for points on three straight plays for a 20-5 Marion lead and Williams logged kills on two of the final Marion points to clinch a 25-6 conquest in the second set. "We didn't take any plays off and played to win every point," said Beasley. "It was just good team volleyball." Marion took advantage of five Searcy hitting errors to claim a 7-3 lead in the third set before senior Riley Jackson and Lauryn Keith alternated points for a 12-3 advantage. Rucker recorded kills on consecutive points to set up consecutive aces by Baker as Marion leapt to a 15-6 lead to force a Searcy timeout. Lauryn Keith carried the Pats to the finish line by scoring, assisting or serving an ace on five of Marion's final six points. Marion plays against next Thursday at 5A-East rival Paragould, which is coached by Marion volleyball great Reed Fogleman. That game will be livestreamed on marionpatriots.com.