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Spikers Fall to No. 9 LCCC
BY RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
Through the early part of the season, Northwest College head volleyball coach Flavia Siqueira has already dealt with more than her share of physical problems. While the injuries have forced her to juggle her lineup multiple times, she’s confident she can handle that part of the equation.
The mental issues, however, have her baffled.
In a season filled with early contests against top 10 opposition, the Trappers proved little more than a speed bump for ninth-ranked Laramie County Community College on Tuesday night, falling in three games 25-10, 25-19, 25-13. Afterward, Siqueira wasn’t shy with her critique of the team’s performance.
“We played scared and immature,” she said. “It was the worst game I’ve seen.”
The Trappers’ coach acknowledged that LCCC was a strong team. That alone, however, doesn’t explain the match’s final margin.
“They have some good hitters,” Siqueira said. “But it isn’t something we haven’t seen already this year and its not something we can’t stop. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that, mentally, we weren’t there. We’ve been doing that a lot lately.”
The loss was the Trappers’ first within Region IX North play this season. Coupled with Monday’s 25-16, 25-15, 24-26, 25-22 victory at Eastern Wyoming, the Trappers are now 4-9 overall this season.
Randi McInerney and Sandrina Hunsel paced the Trappers’ attack at the net in that contest. The pair drew praises from Siqueira for their play in the match.
The road won’t get any easier for the Trappers this weekend. The team travels to the College of Southern Idaho to participate in the school’s Top 10 Tournament.
Northwest College is slated to face Salt Lake, North Idaho, Frank Phillips, Snow College and the host CSI squad at that event.
Four of those five teams appear in this week’s NJCAA national rankings. The College of Southern Idaho carries the No. 3 ranking into the event. Salt Lake is two places lower at No. 5. Frank Phillips, 8-2 this season, checks in at No. 13, while North Idaho is ranked No. 19. The Trappers dropped a decision to Snow College to begin their 2010 season.