Your future, our focus
After Single Week Absence, NWC is Back
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
In a bit of rankings hokey pokey, the Northwest College Trappers have been in the top 20. They've been out.
Now, they're back and holding their highest spot of the 2009 season.
After a 5-1 performance at last week's Wyo-braska tournament in Nebraska, the Northwest College Trappers, 14-4 on the season, are ranked 16th overall in this week's NJCAA volleyball poll. The team is now the second-highest Region IX team in the top 20.
Western Nebraska, the lone blemish to the Trappers' record last weekend, remains entrenched at No. 4. Also appearing from Region IX are Casper College, ranked 19th this week with a 19-7 mark, and Northeastern, 15-5, which is tied with Laredo for 20th.
The Trappers captured a tense five-game match from Northeastern this past weekend. Northeastern had been ranked 12th in the nation at the time.
Overall, this week's poll features a new leader. North Idaho, ranked No. 2 last week, swapped places with the College of Southern Idaho to wear the bulls-eye as the nation's top-ranked team. Blinn College remains in third position.
Here is the complete NJCAA top 20 volleyball poll for the week of Sept. 30:
1. North Idaho (19-3)
2. College of Southern Idaho (16-3)
3. Blinn (18-3)
4. Western Nebraska (21-2)
5. Salt Lake (18-5)
6. Miami Dade (13-2)
7. Iowa Western (22-3)
8. San Jacinto (17-4)
9. Missouri State University-West Plains (11-6)
10. Hillsborough (15-3)
11. Eastern Arizona (13-1)
12. Seward County (17-4)
13. New Mexico Military (19-4),
14. Florida State College at Jacksonville (16-1)
15. Frank Phillips (16-9)
16. Northwest College (14-4)
17. Hutchinson (12-6)
18. Pasco-Hernando (15-4)
19. Casper (19-7)
20. (tie) Laredo (9-5) and Northeastern (15-10)
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically):
Arizona Western (14-7)
Indian Hills-Ottumwa (7-5)
Lake Land (14-7)
Midland (18-7)
St. Petersburg (7-5)
Yavapai (17-8)