Loaded with youth, Cubs ready to return next year

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Bell City senior Andreia Wondel had a prediction for her Cubs teammates at the conclusion of the state volleyball tournament.

"They will be back here every year," Wondel said. "They are awesome."

Wondel was the "old lady" on a Bell City team, which featured three sophomores (Jessica Abner, Jenny Lathum and Rachel Spears) and a freshman (Codie Lancaster) in its starting lineup Saturday.

Two other freshmen (Mallory Dockins and Sherilyn Long) and a sophomore (Kristen Green) were rooting their teammates from the bench in the third-place victory against Winona.

"It is a very young team, and you could tell that they were very nervous last night [during the pool play portion of the tournament]," Bell City coach Erin Hoffman said. "But they came back today and were more relaxed. There is no greediness with this group, and they are truly happy for each other when a teammate makes a good play. They believe in the team aspect of volleyball, which is so important."

Wondel, who played on the 2003 Class 1 state champion team, was the lone senior in the starting six Saturday.

"You could see that they were nervous last night," Wondel said. "I just told them to relax and have fun out there.

"They work well together and practice hard. I certainly see good things down the road for this team. I think it is quite an accomplishment for such a young team like this one to finish third in state. It wasn't a state title like a couple of years ago, but third is better than fourth."

Spears was the Cubs' top player at state, leading the team with 24 kills. Wondel and Lathum had 13 each and Megan Slagley, who will be back as a senior next year, added 11.

Slagley led the team in digs, and Lancaster directed the team from her setter position. She had 60 of her team's 64 assists.

"The future does appear to be very bright," Hoffman said. "If they stick with it and continue to love the game they will be very good."

Spears said she plans a return visit to Warrensburg next year.

"It was so fun not just playing the games but being together," she said. "It was good that we won this last match. Now we can party and celebrate. And we definitely want to come back here again."