Marion Scarlet Hurricanes still reign in SWD volleyball after clinching title with five-set win at Lebanon (copy)
Marion celebrates during a set against Lebanon.
Marion's Maddie Thomas passes the ball against Lebanon on Thursday.
Lebanon's Jaidyn Fields and Marion's Alexis Atkins go for the ball at the net on Thursday.
Lebanon's Raelynn Huff passes the ball against Marion on Thursday evening.
Marion's Aubrey Yarber leaps up to hit the ball over Lebanon's Raelynn Huff on Thursday.
Lebanon's Carlee Ingram hits the ball over the net against Marion.
Lebanon's Jaidyn Fields (2) Abigail Mullins (12) and Kenlie Fields (9) celebrate during the game against Marion.
Lebanon celebrates during a set win over Marion.
Lebanon's Olivia Gibson passes the ball during the Thursday nigth game against Marion.
Lebanon's Kaytie Lampkin (13) tips the ball over a pair of Maion players on Thursday.
Marion's Aubrey Yarber passes the ball against Lebanon on Thursday.
Lebanon's Rhealyn Barton goes to hit the ball against Marion on Thursday.
Marion's Macie Hanshew sets the ball for a teammate on Thursday during their win over Lebanon.
Lebanon's Jaidyn Fields hits the ball against Marion on Thursday.
Marion's Aubrey Yarber passes the ball against Lebanon on Thursday.
Marion's Abby Rabara celebrates against Lebanon.
Marion's Alexis Atkins goes to hit the ball during their win over Lebanon.
Lebanon's Jaidyn Fields tips the ball against Marion on Thursday.
Marion's Halle Richardson hits the ball during their win over Lebanon.
LEBANON, Va. – The ‘Canes still reign in the Southwest District.
Led by the powerful hitting of seniors Aubrey Yarber and Abby Rabara, the Marion Scarlet Hurricanes clinched their fifth straight outright SWD regular-season volleyball title with a 16-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-7, 15-10 triumph over the Lebanon Pioneers on Thursday night.
Marion (16-9, 12-0) trailed two sets to one before rallying, needing 1-hour, 52-minutes to prevail in an intense match and keep the status quo atop the Southwest District standings.
“Overall, we had bigger, better energy and we pulled it out,” Yarber said. “It was a great win.”
Every ounce of that energy and each of the 23 kills, 10 digs and two blocks provided by Yarber was needed.
“I told them before we came over here that Lebanon was going to be ready for us, because every time that we come over here, they are ready,” said Marion coach Amanda Hanshew. “You know it was their Senior Night and emotions were going to be high.”
Lebanon had all the momentum after taking the third set.
What words of wisdom did Hanshew deliver to her team in that moment?
“I told them if you want to continue in the postseason, you’re going to be in pressure situations,” Hanshew said. “How are you going to respond? Now, is the opportunity to show how you are going to respond.”
They got the message loud and clear.
Marion won the fourth set by 18 points and then took the lead for good in the decisive set at 8-7 after a kill by Rabara.
Rabara finished with 11 kills, nine digs and five aces as she and Yarber were clutch.
“Once again, those are seniors that you would expect to step up,” Hanshew said. “I kept telling them at the end, do your job. … They made some key plays when we needed it.”
Marion’s roster features seven seniors.
“Having a lot of seniors on the court together really helps,” Yarber said. “We have played together for a long time and we are all super close.”
Marion had overpowered Lebanon 25-18 , 25-22, 25-22 on Sept. 22.
Exactly a month later, the Pioneers pushed the Scarlet Hurricanes to the limit.
“I thought our kids competed, man,” said Lebanon coach Dennis Price. “They played hard and had great energy and were relentless. Our girls never quit. We fought till the very end and I’m proud of their effort. Our heart was all in this.”
Jaidyn Fields (25 digs, 15 kills), Kenlie Fields (27 digs), Carlee Ingram (17 assists, three aces), Kaytie Lampkin (five aces), Raelynn Huff (six blocks), Rhealyn Barton (five kills) and Abigail Mullins (five kills) were stat leaders for Lebanon.
Jaidyn Fields, Abigail Skeen, Mercedes Raguz, Brooklyn Sutherland and Ingram are seniors for the Pioneers, who open Southwest District tournament play on Monday at home against Tazewell.
“I wish it would have went the other way for us, it just wasn’t meant to be tonight,” Price said. “I still think this was a confidence builder for these girls.”
Like most Southwest District squads facing Marion recently, the Scarlet Hurricanes proved to be too tough.
“We knew we’d have to earn what we got, but we wanted them to earn everything they got,” Price said. “They’re always a solid team every year and their coach does a good job with them.”
Macie Hanshew’s 36 assists and two aces were also key for Marion, while Sadie Amos (five kills) and Maddie Thomas (seven digs) had notable performances too.
“Honestly we struggled this week,” Amanda Hanshew said. “We played Monday and Tuesday and won those games [against Graham and Virginia High] but certainly didn’t play like we are capable of playing. … Hopefully, we’ve learned some lessons this week and found some weaknesses we can fix.”
Still, the ‘Canes clinched the Southwest District’s top seed in the Region 2D tournament.
“That homecourt advantage,” Hanshew said. “That’s crucial.”
Meanwhile, the SWD champions once again reside in Smyth County.
“That is a tradition the past few years,” Yarber said. “To carry it on, we all wanted it really bad.”
Southwest District Regular-Season Volleyball Champions
Since 2021
2026 – Marion
2025 – Marion
2024 – Marion
2023 – Marion
2022 – Marion
Fall 2021 –Virginia High/Marion (VHS won playoff)
Spring 2021 – Virginia High
