VOLLEYBALL : Bell Frustrated Once More in Season Finale

Bell High has had its share of success in the volleyball playoffs. Except in the championship.

In the 4-A final against University on Friday night at Cal State Northridge, the Eagles suffered their fourth defeat in eight years in a City final, losing 15-3, 15-8, 15-13. It was the first appearance in the 4-A championship for Bell, which lost in the 3-A title match in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

“We’re a lot like the Buffalo Bills,” Bell Coach Mike Maywood said. “They’ve never won the Super Bowl, but nobody thinks they’re not a good team. We’ve made it to the big dance four times, but we can’t seem to win it.”

Bell (15-2) held a lead in every game against University (16-1), but could not overcome the duo of 6-foot-5 outside hitter Mike Rupp (19 kills) and 6-6 outside hitter Mark Williams (12 kills).

Senior outside hitter Rudy Flores had 20 kills and Dickie Purcell added 12 for Bell, which lost to University in the last year’s 4-A semifinals. Flores and Purcell also added eight blocks apiece.

“We’re not real satisfied with the way we played,” Flores said. “We just didn’t play our best game. They’re a good team, but they were certainly not unbeatable.”

Bell jumped to a 6-1 lead in the third game and was ahead, 13-10, before University stormed back to run off five consecutive points to win its second consecutive City 4-A title.

“A lot of it had to do with the environment,” Mayfield said. “We never relaxed and got a chance to show what we could do because we were extremely nervous.”

That was evident in the first and second games.

Bell committed five service errors in the first game to help University take command with 12 consecutive points after a 3-3 tie. In the second game, University broke a 6-6 deadlock to open a 14-7 advantage.

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Bell 3, Venice 2--Bell used drive and determination to assure its trip to the final, outlasting Venice in five sets, 12-15, 9-15, 15-12, 15-6, 16-14, in the 4-A Division semifinals Tuesday at Venice.

Dickie Purcell and Rudy Flores led the Eagles with solid performances up the middle. Purcell had 22 kills and eight blocks, while Flores had 27 kills and 13 blocks.

After losing the first two games, Eagles Coach Mike Mayfield switched to a lineup with taller outside hitters. “I was trying to use everyone as a hitter during the first two sets,” said Mayfield, whose team lost to Venice (15-3) earlier in March. “But after we got down, I decided to go with the players who brought us here, Dickie and Rudy.

During the final game, Bell jumped out to a 5-0. But the Gondaliers came back to take a 14-13 lead on Jon Gaydowski’s block.

But a Purcell kill allowed the Eagles to get the serve back. Flores’ kill ended the match and propelled Bell into the finals.

“No one gave up,” Flores said. “We showed a lot of heart by sticking together as a team.”