Bell City, ND go for state crowns

State final four tournaments begin today.

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

The Bell City and Notre Dame volleyball teams have taken different routes but have arrived at the same destination, Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo., for this weekend's state final four.

The Cubs, under first-year coach Erin Hoffman, have played an underdog role while traveling a dramatic Class 1 road, which has featured several three-game victories.

Notre Dame busted through a familiar roadblock to reach the Class 3 final four for the first time.

Both teams will compete in round-round play today with the championships to be decided on Saturday.

Bell City's first trip to the final four since winning the title in 1996 has been filled with ups and downs. The Cubs, led by their four seniors, have been inconsistent at times, going to three games in more matches than they'd prefer.

"Rarely do we win in two games," junior Katie Niemczyk said.

The Cubs (23-9) won their sectional and quarterfinal matches over two teams that combined for just three losses. After winning its district championship match in three sets over top-seeded Advance, Bell City knocked off Gideon in three games in the sectional. It then handed Bismarck just its second loss in a dramatic quarterfinal sweep. Bell City trailed 20-12 at one point before beating the Indians 26-24 in the second game.

"Everyone knows we're famous for our comebacks," senior Whitney Abner said.

Joining the Cubs at the final four are Eminence (20-9-1), Lockwood (29-3-2) and Crest Ridge (26-6-1). Eminence and Crest Ridge met in the third-place game last year, which Eminence won.

The Cubs have been underdogs in the playoffs, but Hoffman said her team is not satisfied with just making the final four.

"We're going to win," she said.

Notre Dame (30-3-1) is also familiar with Warrensburg, having reached the final four as recently as 2001 when playing in Class 2.

This time the Bulldogs made it to the final four with a sectional win over St. Pius and a quarterfinal victory over St. Francis Borgia, which knocked the Bulldogs out in the sectionals last year. Borgia had made it to the final four in four consecutive years with a championship, two seconds and one third-place finish.

"I think they realized when we watched them play they could beat them," Notre Dame coach Tara Stroup said of Borgia.

While Sommer McCauley and Laura Browne have attracted much of the attention of Notre Dame's opponents, senior outside hitter Emily Buehrle has been crucial to Notre Dame's success in the playoffs.

"Emily Buehrle has been a silent weapon for us all year," Stroup said.

The Bulldogs will have to negotiate past a strong final-four group led by defending state champion O'Hara (29-7-2). The Bulldogs also will face Duchesne (17-4) and Pleasant Hill (33-4) in round-robin play.

"We're just going to have to play as good as we can when we get there and hope for the best," Stroup said.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171