Your future, our focus
Dawson, EWC Fall, but No. 20 Laramie Trips NWC
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
'Our serving was great. I was pleased with how we did.'
Flavia Siqueira
NWC head coach
The Northwest College Trappers juggled their lineup at times on Monday night, but it rarely seemed to matter as the team sped past Dawson Community College for a 25-19, 25-13, 25-3 victory. Combined with a weekend win over Eastern Wyoming and a loss to No. 20 Laramie County, NWC carries an 8-2 mark into tonight's (Thursday's) showdown with Casper.
"It took us a little longer to get to the level we wanted to play at tonight than I'd hoped," Trapper head coach Flavia Siqueira said of a sluggish first game. "We didn't set the tone until late."
Once the tone was set, there was little doubt to the night's outcome. Freshman Paula Barros jumpstarted the Trappers shortly after the midway point of game one by registering a pair of ace serves during a spree of five consecutive points. The surge finally opened a margin of comfort between the Trappers and the visiting Bucs as Northwest went on to capture the game.
"Our serving was great," said Siqueira. "I was pleased with how we did."
The Trappers did not commit a serving error over the course of the final two games. Accuracy was no substitute for aggression as the team still managed to pack seven ace serves into that span.
The result was a quick 9-2 Trapper lead in game two and complete domination in game three. The lopsided nature of the scoreboard takes on a greater magnitude considering the fact the Trappers played both games with an improvised lineup.
Sophomore Irelis Ilarraza, the Trappers' team leader in kills this season, left the contest in game one for precautionary reasons. Sophomore libero Marisa Shigetomi yielded her spot on the floor to freshman Valerie Lesu midway through game two as Siqueira took advantage of an opportunity to rest players in advance of the Casper contest.
"Irelis has been bothered on and off by shin splints," Siqueira said of the hitter's early game departure to the sideline. "As for Marisa, it was just a chance to get Val some time on the floor. It's good to know that you have a young player like her developing."
Lesu finished as the team digs leader for the night, recording 15 total. She also served for the final 11 points of the match to help the Trappers make quick work of game three. Jessica Denney finished with six kills to lead the Northwest attack. Randi McInerney added four kills.
The Dawson contest was the third match in four days for the Trappers. The team swept Eastern Wyoming 25-11, 25-19, 25-14 on Friday before falling to No. 24 Laramie 25-15, 23-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-10 on Saturday.
"The match against Laramie was intense from the moment it began to the last point. Both teams played very well," said Siqueira. "Their middle hitters were very fast and we struggled a bit trying to find the right tempo to block them early. We adjusted to that and got back in the game."
The turning point may have come in fourth game. Trapper sophomore Rebekah DePesa suffered an asthma attack and was forced to leave the contest.
"Some of my players lost focus and the reserve players did not do a very good job jumping into the game (after DePesa's departure)," said Siqueira. "It was a competitive match and we are looking forward to seeing them again."
Barros finished the Laramie match with 12 kills. Ilerraza added nine kills. Sophomore Katie Gregg was also singled out by the Trappers' coaching staff for her blocking. Gregg finished with nine blocks, including four solo stuffs.
Against Eastern, Ilerraza finished with eight kills while Barros demonstrated her versatility with 14 assists, seven kills and six ace serves.
The Trappers return to action tonight (Thursday) against Casper. While the game has obvious implications to the Northwest College program given the two schools' meeting in the Region IX North championship last winter, Siqueira and the Trappers are downplaying that history.
"We're not talking about last year," Siqueira said. "This is a new year and these are new kids. We're excited about the match because it will be a challenging one."
The contest should also feature a raucous crowd with a pregame tailgate party taking place beforehand.
"I wanted to have the (Powell- Cody) high school game here so that the crowd could see both games," said Siqueira. "I know we'll have good support from our students. Hopefully we don't lose a lot of people with the high school match."