Volleyball shaped La Conner alum’s success in college and career

A member of a local pioneer farm family played a key role in growing the La Conner volleyball program into a perennial state title contender.

Julie Hulbert Marble is now a dental hygienist at Skagit Valley Family Dental Center. She helped La Conner High School enjoy a steady diet of wins, including state net crowns in 2006-2007 and then majored in nutrition at Central Washington University,

A 5’-11” middle blocker who was a four-year high school letter winner, she played for the school’s back-to-back state champions as a freshman and sophomore and was the NW2B co-player of the year and an all-state selection as a senior in 2009.

That experience proved integral in terms of developing her plans beyond high school.

“La Conner volleyball taught me to work hard toward goals and to have high expectations for myself,” she told the Weekly News. “While playing for La Conner, we set goals for ourselves and goals for the team every season. Learning how to work toward goals, big or small, has helped me achieve my life goals in college and my current career.”

After delivering 12 kills and four blocks in La Conner’s victory over Kittitas in the 2009 state tourney fourth-place match, she signed a letter of intent with CWU.

During her time in Ellensburg, she made the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and was on the court when legendary CWU head coach Mario Andaya recorded his 300th career triumph.

“I loved the program and atmosphere at CWU,” she said. “The volleyball team was one big family.”

Volleyball and family remain inseparable for her after having married two years ago into the family of La Conner Hall of Fame coach Suzanne Marble.

“I loved coach Marble so much,” she said, “that I married her step-son and stole her name.”

Their coach-player relationship even survived a hard spike in practice by Marble that broke the coach’s finger.

“Thankfully,” she said, “coach Marble has forgiven me for breaking her finger, although she still brings it up from time to time!”

For Julie Marble, the memory of that hard spike is just one of many from playing high school volleyball.

“My favorite memories from playing volleyball at La Conner was bonding with my teammates and coaches,” she said. “I am still friends with most of the girls I played with more than 10 years ago and I still keep in contact with the coaches.

“Once you are part of the La Conner volleyball program,” she added, “you are a part of it for life.”

While the team roster turns over from season to season, what remains constant is the program’s commitment to excellence, Marble said.

“Every year La Conner loses key players and the team changes,” she said, “but every year the new team establishes their own identity. Some years may have more individual talent than others, but every year as a team La Conner is strong due to how they mesh together.”

La Conner volleyball this past November won its third consecutive state championship dating to 2018 – the 2020 2B tourney was canceled due to COVID-19 – and it was another Marble, coach Marble’s daughter, junior outside hitter Ellie Marble, who played a key role, garnering All-League and Skagit Valley Herald Volleyball Player of the Year recognition in the process.

A decade earlier, Julie Marble parlayed her versatility – she opened her senior campaign at La Conner by posting nine kills and five service aces in a straight-sets win over Mount Vernon High, among her many highlights that year – into a productive run at CWU.

After redshirting as a freshman, she became a regular part of the Wildcat rotation, showcasing her strength at the net on attacks and blocks while contributing to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

“There was no better feeling,” she recalled, “than upsetting our rivals at home in front of a large cheering crowd.”

Having played for coach Marble, the transition to coach Andaya and CWU was a smooth one.

“Both coaches live and breathe volleyball,” she said. “They both bring the best out of their players not only in skill level but also in life. After I graduated from both programs, these coaches have stayed in contact and are still rooting for me to succeed.”

That success is likewise rooted in her youth, which saw her grow up in La Conner as a member of the Hulbert family, which was honored in 2006 as the Skagit County Pioneer Family of the Year.

“I love the small-town atmosphere of La Conner,” Marble said. “I loved knowing everyone in the halls at school. I loved the pride we took in our athletics and how hard we were all willing to work. Most of all, I love the people of La Conner! I am still friends with my classmates from kindergarten. Now we are having babies, and hopefully they will get to grow up together and experience what I love about La Conner.”

Marble and her husband, Eric, also a former La Conner student-athlete, are now in position to provide counsel to teens currently attending the school and juggling sports and course work.

“My advice,” she said, “would be to enjoy your teammates and have fun! The friendships you make now will last a lifetime.

“Coming together as a team off the court,” she stressed, “will be a huge part of your success on the court.”