Your future, our focus
NWC Trappers Outclass Generals
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
The Northwest College Trapper volleyball team rode the waves of an enthusiastic home crowd to thoroughly dominate every facet of the game in a 25-9, 25-15, 25-11 victory over Sheridan College on Tuesday night. The win improves NWC's record to 6-1 this season and starts the school out at 1-0 in conference play.
"I have to thank the students of Northwest College tonight," said Trapper head coach Flavia Siqueira. "They were really like a seventh player on the court tonight. It was great to have them get behind the team the way they did."
Behind the Trappers pretty much describes where Sheridan College was the entire night. Of the 110 points played in Cabre Gymnasium, the Trappers trailed on the scoreboard for only 14 of them, all but one of which came in the early stages of the second game.
Sophomore Irelis Ilarraza set the tone for the night. The Trappers' season kills leader to date proved equally proficient from the service line as she ripped a pair of aces while serving NWC to an 8-0 lead out of the gate in game one.
The Generals never recovered. Sheridan managed to score consecutive points only once and never got closer than seven points as the Trappers took a lopsided game one.
Northwest let its guard down only briefly in game two. The Trappers were a bit slow out of the blocks in allowing Sheridan to build its biggest lead of the night, 7-4, early. NWC answered with 11 of the next 13 points and the balance of power swung decisively in the Trappers' favor once more.
The night ended in much the same fashion as it began. Ilarraza served up a string of 10 unanswered points for the Trappers, allowing the team to race away from a 14-10 midgame to match point at 24-10. Included in the late run were a trio of consecutive ace serves by the Venezuelan. Katie Gregg knocked down the final kill of the day to wrap up the victory.
"Irelis served a great game for us," said Siqueira. "Rebekah (DePesa) did a nice job of coming on the floor and holding her position tonight as well. Our main goal for the contest was to work to get a few points ahead and then manage the game from there."
For the night, Ilarraza finished with seven ace serves and also paced Northwest with 11 kills at the net. Freshman Paula Barros added eight kills and 14 assists in a well-rounded night. Sophomore Marisa Shegetomi had 17 digs.
The win over the Generals took on an even greater significance with the Wednesday morning release of the latest NJCAA volleyball poll. Both the Trappers and Sheridan were featured among the schools receiving votes for the latest top 20 rankings.
Over the weekend, the Trappers scored a 25-19, 25-10, 25- 19 non-conference victory over Williston State College. Ilarraza had nine kills and freshman Randy McInerney added seven more in support.
Freshman Danielle Stewart led the way with 22 assists. De- Pesa served for four aces in the contest.
Northwest College plays at Eastern Wyoming on Friday night before heading to Cheyenne to play Laramie County Community College on Saturday.
"Our focus this weekend will be on consistency," said Siqueira. "We know what we can do at home, but now we need to show we can do that on the road as well. It's a different environment when the crowd is against you than when it is behind you."
The Trappers return to the friendly confines of Cabre Gymnasium on Sept. 14 for a game against Dawson Community College.