Your future, our focus
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
After enduring one of their worst performances of the season last Tuesday against Western Wyoming, the Northwest College Lady Trappers rebounded with a pair of Region IX wins at home Friday and Saturday.
The Lady Trappers won three of five games against Laramie County Community College Friday, and recorded a dramatic match win in five games against Eastern Wyoming College Saturday afternoon to help erase the memory of the 0-3 performance against Western Wyoming during a one-side match loss.
"I don't know if the players noticed it, but they were communicating so much better, and there was a more serious tone in their voices Friday and Saturday," said NWC head coach Jesseca Cross. "No matter who was on the court, they all worked together so well. They were determined to make things work, and they played two great matches.
"One of the things we've talked about with them lately is having trust in one another and respecting everyone as a leader. It was evident by the way they played that they are more confident in each other. I'm just extremely happy that the girls got a good taste of success last week."
Against Laramie County, the Trappers opened with an impressive start en route to a 30-22 win in game one. However, the outcomes see-sawed the remainder of the way. LCCC won game two 30-17 and game four by a 30-20 margin. NWC squeaked out a hard-fought 33-31 decision in game three and claimed the match win with a 16-14 decision in the final game.
During the match, a number of Lady Trappers enjoyed solid performances, including Whitnie McDonald. The sophomore finished with 23 kills, two aces and 11 digs. Maddie Peterson added 19 kills and 22 digs, and Kim Suter finished with 45 assists and 19 digs. Angela Schuman added six kills, two assists, six digs, one solo block and seven assisted blocks. Shawna Sutherland contributed with five kills and four assisted blocks.
On Saturday, the Lady Trappers maintained the intensity they showed a day earlier by defeating Eastern Wyoming. Unlike against LCCC, the Lady Trappers lost the first game 30-28. They followed by winning the following two games 30-22 and 30-26 before dropping game four 30-22. In the final game, NWC won 15-12 and improved to 2-5 in Region IX play.
Peterson helped pace the match win with team-highs in kills (25) and digs (34). Mc- Donald added 23 kills, 17 digs and two assisted blocks, while Suter finished with 62 assists, 18 digs, two solo blocks and one assisted block.
NWC's Charcie Peabody recorded four aces and 14 digs, and Breanne Robirds finished with six kills, 13 digs and one assisted block. Sutherland added seven kills, six digs, one solo block and two assisted blocks.
Up next: The Lady Trappers will be on the road Tuesday (today) when they face Sheridan College at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, the Lady Trappers will host Miles Community College at 7 p.m., and on Saturday they will close the week with a road match against Casper College at 2 p.m.