Pressure no problem for Cubs in return trip to final four

Despite winning 30 matches and bringing home a third-place trophy, Bell City's young volleyball team had trouble dealing with pressure at times last season.

The Cubs players were disappointed following their performance at the Class 1 final four.

A year later, the Cubs have already surpassed the 30-win mark -- Bell City is 34-1 and has reeled off 31 straight victories -- and are ready to shoot for the program's third state title when round-robin play for Class 1 gets under way at the state final four today in Warrensburg, Mo.

Bell City will face Winona at 9 a.m., Santa Fe at 11 a.m. and Osceola at 1 p.m. today. The championship is noon Saturday.

"A lot of this year, we haven't felt any pressure," Bell City senior Megan Slagley said. "We dealt with so much last year and saw how it brings you down. So this year, we put our foot down and said we won't let it get to us."

Last year, the Cubs started three sophomores and a freshman among their top six. Bell City had just one senior who saw regular playing time. As a result, the Cubs were overwhelmed when they found their way to Warrensburg.

With basically an identical lineup, Bell City has nothing to fear this time around. The atmosphere of the final four should still be fresh in their minds.

"I think it was good I decided to move that group up last year," Bell City coach Erin Hoffman said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have had such a strong year this year. They experienced the pressure. All that pressure put on them when they were young helped them."

Added junior Rachel Spears: "We know what to expect this year. It will be a lot less intimidating."

The Cubs have soared to new heights this season, raising their level of play at each step. Bell City brought home its first B.A. Sports Volleyball Classic title with a three-game win over Bismarck, and beat Class 3 Dexter to win the Stoddard County Activities Association tournament. Throughout the season, the Cubs were pushed to three games just four times, including twice against Bismarck, and won all four.

Unlike last year, when the Cubs had some periods of poor play, Bell City has not let up throughout the season.

"Last year, that was a big issue," Hoffman said. hadn't lost for a long time. Then they started playing really bad because they were tired of playing. This year, they realize what it was like last year and don't want to do that again. ... I don't have to do any motivating this year."

This is the third final four appearance for the Cubs in four years. Bell City brought home the Class 1 state title in 2003, Hoffman's first year as Bell City coach. In Hoffman's four years the Cubs have reached the quarterfinals all four years and have averaged nearly 30 wins a season. This year's squad marks the first group coached exclusively under Hoffman.

"The seniors were my first freshmen here, so this is the first year it's really my team," Hoffman said.

Under Hoffman, one of the main fixtures for Bell City has been relentless defense. The Cubs have seven players who have recorded more than 90 digs.

In their three-game win over Bismarck in the quarterfinals, the Cubs had all six starters record 10 or more digs. Sophomore setter Codie Lancaster led the team that match, while Slagley leads the team with more than 200 digs overall.

"With everyone on the team, especially the seniors, any time from now on could be our last game," Slagley said. "Every ball that hits the floor could be one shot closer to ending our season. So we know we have to get every ball."

As has been the case in Bell City's recent run of success, the Cubs do not have the height of the other final four squads. Each of the other three squads has at least one 6-footer, and Santa Fe has a 6-4 hitter. While the Cubs are no slouches on offense, they enjoy firing up the crowd by digging up big hits.

"Being shorter, for me defense is the best part of the game," 5-foot-3 senior libero Mandi Lee said. "It's what I'm good at. There's nothing better than when someone hits a good spike at you and you dig the ball."

The balance the Cubs show on defense is visible on offense as well. Four players have 100 or more kills, more than any other Class 1 squad at the final four. Hoffman installed a quick offense when she got to Bell City, which gives the Cubs an advantage over many of their small-school counterparts.

"One of my goals when I started coaching high school in the big schools you saw the quick offense, but in the small schools you didn't," Hoffman said. "That was one of my goals when I got to Bell City, and they just did it.

"It's great. I had a setter [Lancaster] as a freshman who had the ability to do that. Plus, every year you can add something to it that it's just not go up and hit the ball."

In order to employ their quick offense, the Cubs have to be able to get the ball to the setter. From the back row to the setting of Lancaster, Bell City's ability to pass has set it apart from the competition this season.

"If you ask any of the players what's the most important concept at Bell City, what they'd answer is stressing fundamentals," Hoffman said. "And with passing, you can't do anything without passing. Since I've been here we've worked as much as possible on passing."

Now all that's left for the Cubs is to put their defense, passing and hitting together on the big stage. Winona (30-3-4) and Santa Fe (31-1-2) are both making return trips to the final four this season. Osceola (25-4-4) is the lone newcomer this season.

"Last year we felt really disappointed in ourselves because we didn't do the best we could do," Slagley said. "This year we're going to do it. We want to make our mark here."

Added Lee: "I know for us five seniors we've played together since fourth grade and ever since then we said we'd do it one day."