Yet another power-packed non-conference schedule and the return of one of its oldest rivals to an already stacked 5A East conference highlight the 2024 Marion volleyball schedule. The defending 5A East champions open this fall's varsity volleyball schedule at home on August 22 when they host the annual preseason jamboree against Valley View, Nettleton, and Brookland. Marion will play a single set to 25 against each school. The Patriots (25-6 overall and 14-0 5A East in 2023) open their 2024 campaign officially on August 26 with a trip to Wynne, followed by an August 27 home date with Beebe. Marion gets 5A East action underway on Thursday, August 29 when it welcomes Greene County Tech to 3M Transit Arena. That kicks off Marion's busiest week of the year as the Pats travel on September 3 to play Nettleton before welcoming Batesville on September 5. Marion returns to Hot Springs on Friday, September 6, and Saturday, September 7 to take part in the annual River City Classic before the Pats jump back into 5A East play on Tuesday, September 10 with a road trip to play Paragould. The first regular-season meeting of 2024 with league rival and perennial state-title contender Valley View is at Marion on September 12, and a Tuesday, September 17 trip to West Memphis marks the first meeting with the Pats' county foe this season. Marion's first conference match with Mountain Home since 2019 is scheduled for September 23 at The Hangar in Mountain Home, and that match kicks off a three-game week for Marion, followed by a September 24 home game against Searcy, and a September 26 trip to Greene County Tech. The Pats open October at home with Nettleton on October 1 before traveling to do battle with Batesville on October 3. Brookland invades Marion on October 7, followed by an October 8 home date with Paragould. The Pats cap a busy week on October 10 when they travel to Blazer Arena for the second Valley View contest. Marion welcomes West Memphis to 3M Transit Arena on October 15, and the Pats hit the road on Monday, October 21 to do battle with Jonesboro. The regular year wraps up with an October 22 home date with Mountain Home, followed by an October 24 season finale at Searcy. The 2024 Class 5A state volleyball tournament will be held in Van Buren, and most Marion volleyball contests can be viewed for free on MarionPatriots.com, on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app, and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel. Stay tuned to the MPAN social media pages for more information.