The Marlington Lady Dukes volleyball team took one step closer to a return to the state tournament, defeating Edgewood in a decisive 3-0 sweep Thursday night in the regional semifinals. With a balanced attack and key contributions from their senior leaders, Marlington moves on to the regional championship, where they will face Holy Name at 2 p.m. Saturday in Alliance, aiming for a second consecutive trip to the state tournament.
Sophomore Danica Sarchione and senior Layne Graffice spearheaded the offensive effort, each recording 14 kills. Sarchione, whose season has been marked by record-breaking play, recently set a new school record for aces, racking up 69 this season and surpassing the previous record set in 2018 by Kirsten Bogunovich.
The Lady Dukes’ roster showcases a mix of experience and emerging talent, with junior Cali Young setting up her teammates effectively. Young logged an impressive 34 assists, orchestrating Marlington’s offense to keep Edgewood on the defensive. Marlington senior Jacsyn Hilliard played a crucial role in the back row, tallying 16 digs to lead the defensive effort. Hilliard also contributed one ace on 13 serves.
Senior Claire Battershell was instrumental in Marlington’s serving game, scoring one ace and adding six service points.
Junior Giana Bogunovich contributed 10 kills and one block, while sophomore Justine Doringo, who is also stepping into a key role, added two kills and a block, with sophomore Roslynn McCarty contributing two kills as well.
Head coach Stephanie Tortola expressed her pride in the team’s progress, especially after graduating five seniors from last year’s roster.
“This season has been about growth and resilience,” Tortola said. “Our younger players have stepped up in remarkable ways, and our seniors have provided the leadership needed to succeed at this level. Playing in these big games builds their mental toughness, which will serve us well not only this season but in the future.”
With a state berth in reach, Marlington’s mix of veteran leadership and promising underclassmen aims to carry them through to another shot at the state title.
