Bell City reaches Class 1 volleyball title game

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Bell City will play for the Class 1 state volleyball championship today after winning five games and losing one in Friday's round-robin semifinals.

The Cubs (25-9-1) made quick work of their first two opponents at the Multipurpose Building on the Central Missouri State University campus.

Bell City dropped Eminence 25-22 and 25-17 in the first of its three matches Friday. In the second match against Crest Ridge, the Cubs won 25-20, 25-10. The third game of the day was a 25-22, 22-25 split with Lockwood.

Friday's results continued Bell City's drive for its first state championship since 1996. That also was the last time the team was in the volleyball final four.

"We're right where we want to be," said Bell City coach Erin Hoffman, whose team will play Lockwood again at 1:30 p.m. today for the title. "I think we played well. We're happy with the way it went."

The Cubs ran into problems during the last match against Lockwood. The Cubs played from behind for almost the entire half of the first game, but with the score at 18-13, Bell City began a rally that started with a misplayed volley by Lockwood.

The Cubs eventually came back and tied Lockwood at 20-20 and again at 22-22, then they rattled off three unanswered scores and won 25-22.

In the second game, the Cubs couldn't overcome a late five point lead and lost 25-22.

"They're a really good team," Bell City senior Sarah Scherer said. "I'm not trying to take anything away from them, but I think we can take them."

Katie Niemczyk had 21 kills and Whitney Amber had an ace and only one error in 34 serves.