Your future, our focus
Lady Trapper sophomores victorious in last home match at Hank Cabre Gym
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
Five Northwest College Lady Trappers played their final match in Hank Cabre Gymnasium Wednesday night, and they ensured it was a memorable one by dominating Miles Community College with a three-game sweep.
Northwest opened the contest with a 30-21 decision and followed with an overpowering 30-14 win in game two. The Lady Trappers capped the match with a 30-24 win that set off a jubilant on-court celebration which included not only the NWC players, but a large group of painted and costume-wearing NWC students.
For NWC sophomore and frontline player Shawna Sutherland, Wednesday night will forever be etched in her mind because of the winning outcome and the strong support from the crowd, which was largely composed of NWC students and faculty. It also is a win fellow sophomores Jennifer McKibben, Whitnie McDonald, Breanne Robirds and Charcie Peabody will be able to reflect on without regrets.
"The crowd was awesome," Sutherland said. "That's the most people I've ever seen in this gym, and it was a great feeling to get a win in our last match at home. It meant a lot to me, and it meant a lot to everyone on the team. I'm just proud to be a teammate to each and every one of them."
The result against MCC Wednesday night was a far cry from what the Lady Trappers and last year's sophomores endured in their last home match against Central Wyoming College. During that match in 2006, NWC dropped three straight games to the Rustlers.
Against Miles Community College, however, the Lady Trappers set the tone early in the match with strong play, and they consistently maintained the momentum until the end.
NWC head coach Jesseca Cross said the victory was a fitting one, especially for the sophomores who just last spring endured a turbulent offseason that included in a coaching change.
Cross also believes the win is an indicator of things to come for the Lady Trappers, who are entering the final matches of the season before the all-important Region IX West Tournament,
which begins Nov. 1.
"I appreciate them so much," Cross said of the sophomores who opted to return after a disappointing season and offseason during the 2006-07 school year. "They kept an open mind and accepted a new system. The work ethic they've shown has been great,
and it's been a truly enjoyable experience.
"When this first started, I had a positive outlook on how things would turn out. I just believed everything would fall in place. With (assistant coach) Tammy Hays coming onboard and with the way the girls wanted to play, I knew everything was going to be OK."
The positive outlook Cross and Hays took at the start of the season, has turned what was expected to be a difficult season into one of promise for the Lady Trappers' volleyball program. Though wins were difficult to come by early in the season, NWC has been playing with more consistency, thanks in part to having a healthy lineup for once. During the stretch from
Sept. 28 through last Wednesday night, NWC posted a 4-3 mark.
Sutherland, who has steadily emerged as a leader this year, said more of her teammates are buying into the notion the Lady Trappers can hit their peak now and possibly win the Region IX Tournament. That's something last year's team didn't believe was possible.
"Coach Cross and Coach Hays believe if you set your mind to do something, you can make it
happen. I'm buying into (the notion NWC can win the upcoming tournament), and you can tell more of our players are buying into it. If we can get everybody believing that, I think it's a real possibility."
During the match with MCC last week, several Lady Trappers turned in solid performances. Whitnie McDonald led the team in kills with 14 and she also added 11 digs and three blocks. Kim Suter paced NWC with 39 assists and added 12 digs. Sophomore and former Powell High School volleyball standout Breanne Robirds added six kills, two aces and 13 digs, and Sutherland finished with 10 kills and five blocks.
Freshman Maddie Peterson, who appears to be over a sprained ankle suffered earlier this year, continued to be a strong performer for NWC as well. She had seven kills, two aces, 16 digs and two blocks against MCC.
On Saturday, the Lady Trappers traveled to face Casper College and suffered a match loss. However, NWC gave the Thunderbirds a stout challenge throughout the match.
After falling 30-20 in game one, the Lady Trappers surged ahead of the Thunderbirds in game two and led by as many as 10 points. However, Casper College called on its height advantage over NWC en route to a come-from-behind win. The Thunderbirds won game two 31-29 and closed out the match with a hard-fought 32- 30 decision in the third and final game.
"The girls played really well, especially considering we have so many kids that are sick right now," Cross said. "They were exhausted after the match." Unfortunately for NWC, they don't have the luxury of a light schedule this week. The Lady Trappers are scheduled to play three times this week, and all of the matches are on the road, starting with a game today (Tuesday) at Central Wyoming College at 7 p.m. NWC is set to face Laramie County Community College Friday at 7 p.m. and Eastern Wyoming College Saturday at 2 p.m. to close out the regular season.
Cross noted that freshman Risako Oda will have a chance to work her way back into the lineup this week after missing most of the season with a broken ankle. Oda, from Fujieda, Japan, sustained the injury during NWC's fourth practice of the season.
Cross also said Peabody will move to the libero position. McKibben, who has been playing at that position, will remain in the lineup and solidify the back row for the Lady Trappers.
"That's the great thing about the girls we have in our lineup - they're so versatile," Cross said. "That gives us more options when it comes to our lineup because they are so interchangeable."
NWC moved to 9-24 overall and 2-7 in subregion play for the season following last week's matches.