Your future, our focus
Trapper coach still looking to fill key positions
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
Flavia Siqueira, head coach of the Northwest College volleyball team, announced last Thursday that Barstow (Calif.) High School standout Katie Gregg has signed a letter of intent with the Lady Trappers.
By committing to play for NWC, Gregg became the first official signee for Siqueira, who was chosen to be the head coach of the Lady Trappers in late February. Gregg, who played the middle position in high school, likely will man the right-side position at NWC, according to Siqueira.
"Getting a player during my first week on the job really helps," said Siqueira. "I'm ready to get things going in the right direction so we can get this team back to the level it was at not too long ago. Getting (Katie) to commit was a step in the right direction, and I'm looking forward to getting more to sign, hopefully by the end of the month."
Gregg, whose high school team played in the Desert Sky League, will bring a long list of accomplishments with her when she reports for the Lady Trappers first practice. As a senior, she was an all-league selection and earned the Aztecs' team MVP award after leading the squad in blocks, digs and kills. During the process, she broke numerous school records that she set a year earlier during a stellar junior season. Also during her senior campaign, Gregg set California Interscholastic Federation playoff game record highs for kills (28), digs (25) and blocks.
During her junior season, Gregg led the Aztecs into the quarter finals of the regional playoffs and an overall record of 22-4. She was an all-league performer and named MVP of the Desert Sky League in addition to earning a spot on the CIF Southern Section's first team. Also following that season, she was tabbed offensive and defensive player of the year. Gregg also was the Aztecs' co-MVP and blocker of the year.
Gregg also enjoyed a stellar sophomore season. During that time she was an all-league performer and garnered blockerand rookie-of-the-year honors.
Siqueira said she is looking to add at least six more players to the Lady Trappers' lineup, which only returns a handful of players from the 2007 season. She has looked at a number of players, including a pair of standouts from Texas and Brazil.
"I'd love to sign 10 players this year, but I'd be happy if we could get seven," Siqueira. I'm looking for players with good skills, but I'm also wanting kids with a passion to play. That's what it is going to take to compete with teams like Sheridan, Casper and the others who have really good programs. If I can get players with talent and a passion for the game, I think we'll have a good chance to create that team chemistry we're going to need in order to have a team that can help make us strong."
Siqueira joined NWC after coaching at the College of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M. Her team finished third in the Red River Conference in 2007 and finished in the top 10 of their region. A Brazilian native, Siqueira was recruited to play collegiate volleyball in the United States by Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.