Your future, our focus
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
Lady Trappers improve to 14-5 overall
Good fortunes continued for the Northwest College Lady Trappers last weekend, thanks to a 6-0 mark during the Colby (Kan.) Classic Tournament. NWC, now 14-5 for the season, went through the event without losing a set during any of their matches.
" The tournament went well and our team had a very successful weekend," said Flavia Siqueira, NWC head coach . "Overall, I was very happy with the way our kids played. They were focused for the most part and played together. We knew some of the weak points of the other teams and used that to our advantage."
The Lady Trappers' coach also said venturing into the nation's heartland was a good experience in that the tournament allowed NWC's players a chance to see a variety of teams that help compose Region IX.
"It was good for them to see teams from Kansas and Nebraska," Siqueira said, "and understand that we are part of one of the toughest regions in the country and that we need to keep improving day after day."
The Lady Trappers opened the tournament Friday with a match against Dodge City (Kan.) Community College and won 25-19, 25-22. Siqueira said NWC was consistently on target with its passes, which helped the Lady Trappers run a fast-paced offense. Sophomore Carol Martin was among the leaders for NWC with a 20-assist performance.
Thabata Galvao, also a sophomore, contributed 10 kills, and sophomore Maddie Peterson and Martin registered 15 and eight digs, respectively. That victory was followed by match victory against Garden City (Kan.) Community College, a team Siqueira said was loaded with talent.
"They did not play focused against us," Siqueira added. "We took advantage of their down moment and won 25-13 and 25-7."
Galvao and Peterson were again among the leaders for NWC with eight kills each. As a team, NWC finished with eight aces, including three from Martin.
On Saturday, the Lady Trappers faced a four-match schedule and continued their winning ways by winning all eight sets during the day. The first victim of the day was Otero Junior College, which fell to NWC 25-19, 25-15. A number of Lady Trappers enjoyed strong efforts in the match against the La Junta, Colorado based team, including sophomore Angela Schuman, one of only two returning players from last season's squad. She finished with five kills and zero errors.
Other leaders against Otero were Galvao (eight kills, 16 digs), freshman Marisa Shigetomi (12 digs) and Martin (25 assists).
In their second match Saturday, the Lady Trappers faced a tough Barton Community College squad, Siqueira said.
"Barton had a tall team and a very smart setter, who was also a good hitter on the right side. However, we were able to run our offense quickly and win the match 25-20 and 25-19."
Martin led the way with 23 assists and 15 digs. Peterson and freshman Kayla Propes, both of whom played as outside hitters, finished with seven kills each.
With momentum building in their favor, the Lady Trappers overpowered the host team from Colby Community College and won 25-8, 25-13.
"Against Colby, we played very well," Siqueira said. "We were very loud and did not let them play at their level."
Martin paced NWC with 18 assists and seven digs. NWC's hitters also averaged four kills during the contest.
In their final match of the day and the event, the Lady Trappers made quick work of McCook (Neb.) Community College by winning in two sets, 25-16 and 25-14.
"We were not focused during the first set and tied the game at 11-11," NWC's coach said. "After a timeout, the girls got back on the court and played much better."
A 21-assist, eight-dig effort by Martin led NWC. Galvao also enjoyed one of her best performances as a Lady Trapper and finished with 12 kills. Freshman Rebekah DePesa, came off the bench and contributed three aces and six kills.
"Everyone had a chance to play," Siqueira said. "Our non-starters played well and showed their capacity when needed."
The Lady Trappers (14-5) have two matches scheduled this week. The first is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 against Central Wyoming College and will be played in Riverton. On Saturday, NWC will face Western Wyoming Community College at 3 p.m. in Rock Springs.
So far this season, all of NWC's matches have been played outside of Powell. Following this week's matches, NWC will endure yet another road trip for the Sept. 18-20 Wyoming/Nebraska Shootout inTorrington and Scottsbluff, Neb. After that, the Lady Trappers will have the chance to play at home when they square off against Dawson Community College at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22.
"The girls are really looking forward to playing at home," Siqueira said. "They've been talking about it a lot."