Your future, our focus
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
Squad registers 3-4 mark in CSI's Outback Invitational
Seven matches in two days- that was the task facing the Northwest College Lady Trappers last Friday and Saturday at the College of Southern Idaho's Outback Invitational in Twin Falls. Making that challenge even more difficult for NWC was the fact that four of its opponents boasted lofty national rankings entering the event.
Despite those obstacles and a 13-player roster filled with nine freshmen, first-year Lady Trapper head coach Flavia Siqueira directed her squad to a 3-4 mark during NWC's first action of the season.
"I was pleased with this tournament," Siqueira said. "I still believe we lack experience, but we were in good shape and performed well against teams that are ranked. For sure it was a wake up call for some of my kids who now understand a little bit more about the level and the speed of collegiate volleyball."
NWC opened the tournament with four games on Friday, including a 9 a.m. contest against sixth-ranked Salt Lake Community College. The Lady Trappers lost that match 25-23,25-12.
"It was a good match, and we were ahead for a while," Siqueira said. "But they came back with a very strong block and took the match away from us.
"Siqueira noted the performance of Katie Gregg, a freshman middle hitter from Barstow, Calif. According to her coach, Gregg was aggressive against SLCC's top blockers. In their second match Friday, the Lady Trappers squared off against the College of Southern Idaho, another national power and the event's host team. CSI, which boasted a No. 3 ranking, held off NWC's upset bid 25-19, 25-19.
"Once again, it was a very good match," Siqueira said. "They have some very powerful hitters, but we were able to play scrappy defense and keep the ball in play."
Among the highlights of the match was an eight-kill performance by Gregg. Siqueira also noted the passing of Thabata Galvao, a sophomore middle hitter from Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
Against Snow College, Siqueira notched her first match win as the Lady Trappers' head coach. NWC won the match in three games. After dropping the first game 25-23, the Lady Trappers rallied to win the next two 25-12, 17-15.
"It was a very intense game," Siqueira said. "We were very loud and very focused."
Carol Martin, a sophomore setter from Curitiba, Brazil, finished with 23 assists. Teammate and returning starter Maddie Peterson added six kills. As a team, NWC recorded 44 digs.
In their fourth match of the day Friday, NWC kept their winning ways intact by pulling off an upset victory over 11th ranked Casper College. NWC won the slow-paced match 25-23, 25-17.
"They tipped a lot of balls, and our defense was not able to pick up many of those," Siqueira said. "On the other hand, we were able to hit well and put the ball away."
Galvao was among the team's leaders with eight kills and 15 digs, and Martin added 28 assists.
After a grueling Friday, the Lady Trappers were greeted with a 9 a.m. matchup against 18th-ranked North Idaho College. Siqueira said her squad did not play well, but they were able to mount a respectable challenge against NIC en route to losing 25-16, 25-19.
That match was followed with a contest against WesternWyoming Community College. NWC won the first game 25-16, but the Mustangs rallied to take game two 25-19. In the deciding game, the two teams waged a hard-fought battle, and WWCC was able to squeak out a 23-21 decision to claim the match victory.
"It was a very intense match," Siqueira said. "The kids played very well. They hustled after every ball, but the pressure affected how some of the freshmen played and Western kept the ball in play after one of our mistakes and took the match away from us."
Galvao had 10 kills against the Mustangs, and Gregg had eight. Martin led the Lady Trappers in assists with 31.
Ten minutes after the conclusion of the loss to WWCC, NWC rebounded to defeat Colorado Northwestern Community College 25-12, 25-12.
"The kids came back on the court and won in two," Siqueira said. "We served well and hit well, and had seven aces as a team. I was happy with how they were able to shake off the previous loss and focus to play our final match."
Up next: The Lady Trappers (3-4) are scheduled to be in action again Thursday at the three-day Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference's preseason tournament. That event will take place in Riverton. After that tournament, the Lady Trappers will set their sights on the Colby Classic Tournament in Colby, Kan., Sept. 5-6.