JONESBORO --- In the preseason, Marion's volleyball coaches knew that their path to a second straight 5A East title, and third in three seasons, in 2024 relied on their ability to perform every night, and in hostile road environments. Tuesday night at Nettleton, Marion got its first opportunity to win a conference road game this fall, and the result was familiar. The Patriots improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the 5A East with a three-set conquest (25-5, 25-18, and 25-10) inside Raider Gymnasium. Marion's might was on full display at Nettleton, as the Patriots amassed a season-high 48 kills in the victory, including 18 from junior Kennedy Bullins and 12 by sophomore Kendall Brown, and junior Aynslee Coad finished with seven. The Patriots also proved deft on serve/receive as junior Abby Simmons recorded five aces, while senior Alexa Shinabery logged a pair, and junior Maggie Miller and sophomore Mallorie Sharp finished with one apiece. Simmons and Miller paced the Pats with 15 and 14 digs, respectively, while junior Kaitlyn Austin racked up 12 of her own. Miller, who is Marion's all-time assist leader, added 25 helpers to her career total, while sophomore Claire Brinkley recorded 11 assists of her own. Marion started fast at Nettleton, scoring the first 12 points of the opening set, including four aces from Simmons, three Miller-to-Bullins connections, and a pair from Miller to Brown. Miller kept the offense flowing down the stretch, finding Austin and Bullins twice apiece to help the Pats lock down an impressive 20-point victory in the opener. Set No. 2 proved to be considerably tougher despite Marion scoring the first five points, highlighted by two Brown kills and one from Marlee Williams. The Raiders made a bid to get back into the contest from there, scoring 11 of the next 16 points and taking their first lead at 12-11 on an Avery Sample ace. That's when Miller and Brinkley took over, handing out a combined five assists between them, and when Simmons served her only ace of the second set, Marion was back in front 17-12. Marion turned away Nettleton in the second stanza once and for all behind a pair of Brown kills, and one apiece from Williams and Shinabery as the Pats claimed a seven-point victory. The Pats carried the momentum into the third set when Bullins amassed 12 kills, and she scored Marion's final eight points. Brown got the ball rolling with two kills and a block to give her team an early 4-1 lead, and the advantage hit 9-3 following Sharp's ace and a Coad kill as Nettleton called for time. The Raiders got within 9-6 after the stoppage, but Miller and Brinkley found Bullins over and over again to earn Marion's fourth straight-sets victory so far in 2024. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion continues its first jaunt through 5A East play on Thursday afternoon when the Patriots host Batesville. The junior high B game begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the junior high A game and then the varsity game. You can watch the Batesville contest for free on MarionPatriots.com, on the MPAN YouTube channel, or on the MPAN mobile app. 5A EAST RESULTS FROM 9/3 Marion 3, Batesville 0 Valley View 3, Paragould 0 Greene Co. Tech 3, Mountain Home 1 Batesville 3, W. Memphis 2 5A EAST STANDINGS ON 9/4 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Marion 2-0 Valley View 2-0 Nettleton 1-1 Greene Co. Tech 1-1 Mountain Home 1-1 Batesville 1-1 Searcy 0-1 W. Memphis 0-1 Paragould 0-2 5A EAST GAMES ON 9/5 Batesville at Marion Greene Co. Tech at Nettleton W. Memphis at Mountain Home Searcy at Paragould Valley View is open.