Your future, our focus
By FRED MILLER
Powell Tribune Staff Writer
Northwest College's volleyball team plays its first match this week, and it is ready to get the show on the road, head coach Jesseca Cross said.
"I think we're going to have an awesome season," Cross said. "I have no worries, no doubts or anything in my mind. I'm totally positive."
On Friday and Saturday, the team will play at the Central Wyoming College Invitational in Riverton. The Trappers' first home match will be Friday, Sept. 14 against CWC.
Cross, a former allconference volleyball player at Powell High School, takes over this year as interim coach. Cross took part in the hammer throw and shot put events as a 2000 U.S. Olympian.
Her assistant coach is Tammy Hays, who played volleyball for Cody High School and on a Division I team in college. Hays' husband, Josh, is a counselor at Powell High School and serves as the Panther football team's defensive coordinator.
Cross said the Lady Trappers has 14 practicing members at the moment. Six are returning sophomores and eight are freshmen or new sophomores. Starting players are Maddie Peterson, who plays left front and front rotation, setter Angela Schuman, left front/left hitter Whitnie McDonald, back row specialist Charcie Peabody, middle hitter Chelsie Voight and right-side hitter Risako Oda.
Oda is an international student from Japan, and Cross tabbed her a strong addition to this season's lineup. "Probably the most impressive thing about the girls so far is they've come in for practice fired up and without having much experience together," Cross said.
Practices began last Monday, and players have focused on fundamentals. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were used for team tryouts, and positions were assigned by Saturday. The team is working to put together its offense and defense, she said.
Last year, the team finished with an overall record of 12-33 and a Region IX sub-region record of 1-11. Cross said the records were "not so good," but the team is working to improve this season, and the players are ready to start playing.
"I'm ready to go," Cross said.
"We're ready to go."