Bell City hitters lean on their setter to spread the ball around for success

~ Lancaster helps Cubs sweep visiting Leopold.

Bell City junior Codie Lancaster was selected for the all-state team both her freshman and sophomore years.

But Cubs coach Erin Hoffman continues to drive her each day at practice to become a better setter.

"I've been getting on her big time to mix it up and not go to the same place over, over and over because smart teams are going to catch onto that and then they're going to stop us," Hoffman said. "So I've really been getting onto her about mixing it up and making sure that all her hitters get to hit the ball, even the back row."

Lancaster did a nice job of distributing the ball and reading the opposing defense Friday against Leopold. With Bell City up a game and leading game two 24-23, the Leopold blockers focused on Lancaster's left side, looking as though they expected the junior to dish it to her outside hitter. Instead, Lancaster made a quick feed to the right side where Rachel Spears took the pass and smashed it over the net for the kill and the win.

Bell City's Rachel Spears (11) drove a spike past Leopold's Maddy Hutchings during Friday's match at Bell City. (Kit Doyle)

Lancaster had 21 assists to help the Cubs beat Leopold 25-20, 25-23. Bell City improved its record to 17-2-1.

"She's basically becoming a smarter setter," Hoffman said. "They were expecting her to set it outside because all the blockers went that way. ... I'm just very impressed by the way she mixed the ball up tonight. She's getting really good game smarts, where she knows where the blockers are on the other side and she knows what hitter to set. She's doing a really good job."

Lancaster also made some nice hustle plays Friday to keep her team in the match. Late in the second game, she saved a ball by sprinting and diving into her team bench. After hitting it back in play, she sort of fell into Hoffman.

Hoffman said she told her to get back to the floor during the run-in.

"I said, 'Nice hustle, now get back in there and set the ball,'" Hoffman said.

Bell City senior Jessica Abner spiked for a point during Friday's match against Leopold in Bell City. (Kit Doyle)

The junior was setting the ball nicely to Spears, who had 11 kills, and Jessica Abner, who had seven. Jenny Lathum chipped in five kills and 15 digs.

Spears said she and her teammates appreciate Lancaster's hustle, especially when she dives into the bench.

"As soon as she got the ball, I was hoping she was OK, but I was also worrying about getting it over [the net] because there is no point for her running over there unless we get it over for her," Spears said.

"I'm really glad we have Codie as our setter because you can pass all you want and you can be great hitters, but if you don't have a setter, you can't do anything," she added. "You see teams and you're watching them warm up and their coach is tossing the ball to them and they've got big girls and they're slamming it. But then they put their setter out there and they cannot do anything. So without Codie, we would be pretty worthless."

Lancaster had a number of no-look sets to the left-handed Abner, who hit the ball well as the right-side hitter.

Bell City players celebrated a point during the match.

"When I'm not facing Abner, most of the people think I'm going the other way, and then she just slams it," Lancaster said. "I am confident in all of them. I know I can give it to anybody and they'll just smash it. It is pretty good having that combination on your team."

Leopold coach Sandy Davis said Lancaster and the rest of the Bell City squad outplayed her team.

"They're a good team," Davis said. "Codie is a great setter and Rachel is an outstanding [hitter]. They are just an all-around good team. So you can't say enough. Our girls were not up to par and playing as well as they should have tonight. But you can't take away anything from Bell City."