Marion banking on Norton again

Karla Norton is a master of mixing it up.

On one point, Marion’s 5-10 senior might deliver a powerful spike. On the next point, she may supply a soft shot where no defenders are located.

Her opponents never seem to know what’s in store for them.

“Karla is such a graceful athlete,” Marion Coach Lisa Beasley said. “She seems to know what’s best for every situation. ... She does thingsthat aren’t coachable.”

Norton will lead her Lady Patriots teammates against Van Buren (22-7) today in the Class 6A volleyball state championship game at Bentonville’s Tiger Arena.

It will be the second consecutive appearance for Marion in the state title game. The Lady Patriots (23-3) lost 3-1 to Benton in the 2009 final.

“This means a lot to us,” Norton said. “We’ve wanted this ever since last year. ... We don’t want to go down the way we did last year.”

The Lady Patriots’ chancesof earning the program’s first state title are good if Norton continues to play like she did in Thursday’s 3-0 semifinal victory over Mountain Home. Norton was 17 of 17 on serves and had 12 kills, 17 assists and 16 digs against the Lady Bombers.

“She was remarkable,” Beasley said.

Norton and 6-1 junior middle hitter Harley Strayhorn - who had nine kills and 12 assists against Mountain Home - have been a great combination for the Lady Patriots.

“We’re real close,” Nortonsaid of Strayhorn. “It’s like we can read each other’s minds. I know where she’s going and she knows where I’m going. We just have a great connection.”

Marion will have to find a way to slow down Van Buren outside hitter Brittany Henson. Henson had 15 kills Thursday in the Lady Pointers’ semifinal victory over Jonesboro.

“She’s been a leader for us all year,” Van Buren Coach Stephanie Hill said.

Van Buren is making its first appearance in the state championship game.

Sports, Pages 25 on 10/30/2010

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