Leopold sweeps rival Bell City

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- The final game between the Bell City Cubs and Leopold Wildcats proved to be the most competitive Friday night.

It featured 11 ties, seven lead changes and needed 26 points to be completed.

The Cubs managed to build a 24-21 lead after consecutive kills by Jasmine Johnson and a block by Alex Eakin. The Wildcats responded by scoring the next four points to take a 25-24 lead.

The Wildcats' Abby Landewee hammered a ball past two Cubs defenders on the next rally to end the third game and give Leopold a 25-18, 25-18, 26-24 victory in a best-of-five match.

"We mixed up our hits more," Cubs coach Erin Hoffman said of her team's play in the third game. "Instead of setting the same set to our middle hitters in a quick offense, we had our setter set them all over the net. I think that had a lot to do with it."

Strong serving by Leopold senior Mackenzie Beel helped the Wildcats build a 23-16 lead in the first game. Beel's back-to-back aces were part of a 5-1 run late in the first game.

The Cubs took two of the next three points before a kill by the Wildcats' Mallory James abruptly ended the first game, giving Leopold a 25-18 victory.

The two teams traded the first 10 points in the second game before Beel recorded two aces during the scoring sequence. She finished with four aces in the match.

"She has an effective top-spin serve," Leopold coach Sandy Davis said. "She's very effective with it and she's so aggressive. She's getting more confident with it as the season goes on."

The Wildcats followed Beel's aces with a 10-2 run to take a 15-7 lead in the second game. The Wildcats never trailed again after their longest run of the game, taking the second game 25-18.

Hoffman said her team has been working on minimizing its opponents' runs.

"I think we played some good, solid ball," Hoffman said. "We have these moments where we break down for six or seven points and then we play good the rest of the time. Tonight we had one of those each game but it was only for three or four points. That's getting smaller."

Johnson performed well at the net for the Cubs, finishing the match with 21 kills.

"She's really good," Landewee said of Johnson. "I love playing against people that are really good. It's a really big challenge and I always look forward to challenges."

Landewee recorded 10 kills, eights digs and two blocks. James added 10 kills, seven digs and four blocks. Sydney Eeftink had 33 assists.

Trisha Slagley managed 21 assists and 16 digs for the Cubs. Lindsey Rendleman finished with 16 digs.

The Wildcats have won eight consecutive Class 1 district titles, while the Cubs have won seven. If both teams win their districts, they could meet again this season in the Class 1 sectionals.

"I think it would be another great game if we meet again," Hoffman said. "I think it could probably go either way if we keep improving, which I think we will. We need a little more defense passing work. But that's going to get better."

State-ranked teams will play Monday when Leopold travels to Scott City. Scott City is ranked No. 3 in Class 2, and Leopold is ranked No. 6 in Class 1.

"We are going to have practice this weekend and just try to get ready for it," Landewee said. "It's always fun to win. I definitely always hope to win. It would be sweet to beat Scott City, but they are a really good team."