Cubs fall to Gideon in quarterfinal

Bell City's hopes of repeat state championships will have to wait until basketball season.

The defending Class 1 volleyball champion Cubs fell to Gideon 25-13, 21-25, 25-18 in the state quarterfinal match Saturday at Advance.

Bell City finished its season 26-7-1.

"It was a good game," Bell City coach Erin Hoffman said. "Gideon did a good job and really picked up the momentum at the end."

The match was filled with momentum swings, starting with Gideon rolling through the first game. Gideon (34-2) never trailed in the opener, holding off some early Bell City rallies before pulling away for an easy win.

After looking outclassed in the first game, Bell City came back swinging in game two. Bell City freshman Rachel Spears put down some timely kills, and senior Katie Niemczyk was strong on offense and defense. While the game looked like it could swing Gideon's way at any moment, the Cubs held off some late rallies to pull even.

Hoffman said she did not have give any type of motivational speech between games.

"The beginning of the second game I saw them talking, and I completely stayed out of the huddle," she said.

The Cubs turned to Niemczyk to provide the offense in the third game. She had six kills in the game and was all over the court for Bell City.

On the other side, Samantha Lacewell was unstoppable when it counted. Neither team led by more than two points through the early going, with Gideon's 17-14 lead the first three-point lead of the game. Of Gideon's final eight points of the match, Lacewell had four emphatic kills and a stuff block to put the Cubs away.

"Bell City is a never-say-die team, and that's Stoddard County volleyball," Gideon coach Suzie Ruppert said.

Lacewell finished with 20 kills and six blocks in leading Gideon to its first final four. Kayla Richardson added 11 kills and seven blocks, and Liz Spears had 26 assists.

"This is history for the town of Gideon," Ruppert said.

Niemczyk led Bell City with 11 kills and 16 digs. Spears added eight kills and 11 assists for the Cubs.

"She picked it up all day long," Hoffman said of Niemczyk. "Katie did an excellent job today. She'll be missed."

Despite the loss, Bell City has a bright future. The Cubs have four starters coming back, all underclassmen. Niemczyk, an all-state performer last season, and Emily Burch were the only two senior starters for the Cubs.

"We'll definitely miss Niemczyk, and Emily Burch picked it up this year," Hoffman said. "We do have a lot of young kids coming up."

• Bell City defeated Leopold in the sectional round 25-12, 18-25, 25-15 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Leopold finished its season 22-7. Amber Nenninger led Leopold with eight kills and seven blocks. Lori VanderMierden had 13 blocks and nine digs, Tony Arnzen had nine digs, Jena Stoverink had six digs, Sam Bueter had 10 digs and Rachel Crader added 25 assists for Leopold.