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Trappers Push Winning Streak to Nine Matches
Following his team’s road victories over Region IX foes Casper and Sheridan colleges last week, respectively, Northwest College volleyball coach Shaun Pohlman tried to keep things in perspective.
“We’re only as strong as our collective strengths allow us to be,” Pohlman said.
If that’s true, the No. 11-ranked Lady Trappers must look like the Incredible Hulk to their opponents.
NWC downed Casper (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20) on Oct. 16 before sweeping Sheridan (25-13, 25-8, 27-25) a day later to push its season record to 22-7 overall and 8-0 in region play. The Trappers are now on a nine-game winning streak and have gone 17-1 since Sept. 6.
NWC’s surge is coming at the right time, as the Trappers prepare for home matches against Central Wyoming College on Friday and No. 9 Western Wyoming Community College on Saturday. The two matches will be crucial for Region IX standings, as NWC and Western Wyoming (8-1 Region IX) could be playing for first place on Saturday. If the Trappers down CWC and Western Wyoming tops Sheridan, Saturday becomes a battle for region supremacy.
“This week is going to tell us a lot,” Pohlman added. “We’re going to learn a lot about our team and a lot about where our season is headed.”
If recent results mean anything, NWC is headed in the right direction.
Against Casper, the Trappers won the first set, but saw their third-game woes continue as the Thunderbirds avoided a sweep. NWC recovered, though, and posted the five-point match victory in game four.
Freshman Aleksandra Djordjevic led the Trappers with 21 kills and tied for the team high with Elisa Brooks with 18 digs. Teodora Tepavac added 14 kills and 13 digs despite a sore ankle. Megan Huddleston chipped in 32 assists, 10 digs and seven kills.
“I feel like we’re playing a little more consistently for the most part,” Pohlman said. “I was happy to see that we sort of got out of our third-set issues against Sheridan.”
It took a little more time, but the Trappers did just that.
NWC initially trailed 7-2, but fought back and was ahead 24-22 late in the match. The Generals rallied however, and the match expanded into extra points. Nonetheless, the Trappers exorcised their ghosts by pulling out the hard-fought sweep. Tepavac notched a kill to make it 26-25 before finishing things off with a block.
“That was huge for us,” Pohlman said of the sweep. “Sheridan’s coach said that it sometimes takes their team a couple of sets to get going, and you mix that with our third-set issues, it was a battle. But we came out on top and it was a relief.”
Djordjevic’s 14 kills again led NWC, and Tepavac finished with 10 kills and 10 digs. Vera Horstmann added nine kills. Huddleston paced the team with 27 assists. Kimber Call earned 15 assists.
The Trappers’ final four matches of the regular season, including this weekend’s action, will take place at Cabre Gym in Powell, ending with a match against Laramie County C.C. on Halloween. The Region IX Tournament will then commence on Nov. 5 in Casper.
Given his team’s spotless region record, Pohlman has plenty of reason for optimism with the tournament around the corner. But Pohlman again kept things in perspective.
“I know we’re going to be competitive and that’s number one,” Pohlman said. “And I’m happy with where we’re at, but I’m not satisfied. It’s who shows up at the region tournament that really matters.”