Advance downs Bell City to return to the final four

The Advance Hornets are going to the final four for the fifth time in the last six years with the previous four trips resulting in state titles. The Hornets defeated the Bell City Cubs in straight sets 25-19, 25-19 and 25-12 in the state quarter final on Saturday.

“I am so excited for them (the players),” said Advance coach Erin Hoffman. “This senior group really has been through a lot and they really did a good job today.”

Advance jumped out to a 6-1 lead in set one. Bell City cut the lead to 6-3 before the Hornets stretched it to 8-4. Back to back kills by Bell City's Maddie Asher cut the lead to 8-5. This was as close as the Cubs would get. A 5-1 run by Advance would extend the lead to 13-6.

Bell City battled but every rally was snuffed out by the Hornets as Advance won the first set 25-19.

Advance again started quick in the second set jumping to a 9-2 lead. But the Cubs battled back going on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 11-9. An exchange of points made it 12-10. Then a 4-0 run extended the Hornets lead to 16-10 prompting Bell City coach Lori Meyer to take a timeout.

After the timeout a 4-3 run stretched Advance's lead to 20-13. The Cubs cut the lead to 20-15. Bell City went on a 4-3 run of their own to cut the lead to 23-19. Advance then finished the set winning 25-19.

Early in the third set the two teams traded points with the Hornets taking a 7-4 lead. Advance then went on a 9-3 run to build a 16-7 lead. Meyer took a timeout to gather her team. However the Hornets would not let the Cubs get on track in the third set winning 25-12 and finishing the match.

“It's always a good game when Advance plays Bell City,” said Hoffman. “Its been that way for a very long time. I came into this game knowing we better not be comfortable and we better be ready to play.”

As the celebration continued on the Advance side of the court an emotional Meyer emerged from the Bell City locker room after talking to her team. Though hurting from the loss she said it hurt more knowing she would not coach her seniors again.

“All seven have shared court time the whole time, they have worked together and shown good leadership with underclassmen,” said Meyer. “That what is emotional, not necessarily the loss. It was a fantastic season, when you can say your top eight that is pretty good. But it is just that we are losing a good core.”

“I am not taking anything away from Advance, whatever mistakes we made they capitalized and there were very few mistakes they made themselves,” continued Meyer. “We can hit it (the ball) as well as they can, they just do it more often.”

Bell City finished the season with a record of 25-10-2.

Advance (33-3-3) will face Galena (35-1-1) in the state semi-final on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The winner face the winner of the second semi final between Northwest (Hughesville) (30-2-2) and South Iron (21-9-4). The championship match is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday and the third place match is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday.