Marble is national volleyball co-coach of year

During her three decades at La Conner Schools, Suzanne Marble has established a level of excellence unrivaled satewide.

Now the entire nation is aware.

Marble, a member of the Washington State Coaches Association Hall of Fame who has guided La Conner teams to seven state volleyball titles---four since 2018---has been named a 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Co-Coach of the Year.

She shares the national honor with Diana Kramer of New Bremen High School in Ohio. Kramer’s teams have captured three Ohio state crowns in the past six seasons.

Under Marble, La Conner has won state championships in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

La Conner likely would have added another championship banner in 2020 but the state tournament that year was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But success on the court---Marble topped the 550-career victory mark this past season---tells only half the story. She was also recognized by AVCA for having been a positive role model, laying a foundation for her La Conner players to become successful adults and community leaders.

During the 2022 campaign, capped last month with a most satisfying championship round triumph over longtime state tourney nemesis Colfax, Marble was feted with a community celebration at Landy James Gym, where her famed “ready room” off the competition floor has been named in her honor.

In addition to defeating Colfax at the Yakima SunDome, La Conner in the state semifinals avenged an earlier regular season road loss to Manson. The Lady Braves also downed Okanogan and Lind-Ritzville-Sprague at the 2022 state tournament, losing just a single set in the process.

Marble’s daughter, senior outside hitter Ellie Marble, a Central Washington University volleyball recruit, was named the state 2B tourney’s top player, one of four La Conner team members to earn All-State accolades along with seniors Makayla Herrera and Josie Harper and junior Morgan Huizenga.

Ellie Marble has since also been chosen the Washington State 2B Volleyball Player of the Year.

A five-time recipient of state coach of the year honors, including in 2022, coach Marble has more than a dozen times been named the Northwest league’s premier coach.

“Suzanne Marble is the epitome of the ideal volleyball coach,” retired La Conner director of athletics and administrator Peg Seeling said in October, as the Lady Braves began their late season push to win the ’22 state title, “but that pales when compared to the impact she has had on hundreds of La Conner students. She has taken young girls and turned them into successful women.”

Marble’s selection for the national coaching honor coincides with the 50th anniversary of Title IX, federal legislation which bars discrimination based on sex in educational institutions and programs, including athletics.

AVCA, which was launched in 1947---a quarter-century prior to Title IX---provides its members with coaching education, professional development and networking opportunities. The organization is perhaps most proud of the awards it bestows on coaches like Marble who have consistently excelled in their roles.

“There is no higher individual coaching honor we award than the AVCA Coach of the Year,” said an association spokesperson. “They demonstrate the very best our sport has to offer as chosen by a committee of their peers at each level.”