Your future, our focus
BY DAVE BONNER TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
powelltribune.photoshelter.com
Three straight triumphs to win their own round-robin invitational over the weekend has the Northwest College Trapper volleyball team feeling good about the first half of their season — and braced for a stiff conference season ahead.
The Trappers swept through the Friday-Saturday home invitational without losing a set. They won 3-0 over the Wyoming All Stars and Colorado Northwestern Friday and added a 3-0 match win over Williston State from Williston, North Dakota, Saturday morning.
“We have a few more non-conference matches [Western Nebraska and two against Rocky Mountain College JV], but in essence, this concluded our non-conference schedule,” said Trapper head coach Scott Keister. “Our schedule is going to get much tougher as we enter conference play.”
That “second season within the season” starts with a trip to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to meet national powerhouse Nebraska Western on Sept. 23, followed by the true conference openers at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne Sept. 24 and Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington Sept. 25.
The Trappers have this coming weekend off to prepare for the back half of the season.
“The break comes at a nice time to give us a little rest after playing 15 matches over a span of 22 days,” Keister said. “We have been blessed to be at home for seven of those matches.”
He called the home crowd following “incredible.”
“That brings us so much energy, especially from our student section,” Keister added.
In the Paint the Town Red invitational last weekend, NWC went 3-0 against the field of four. The Wyoming All Stars finished second at 2-1, Williston State was third at 1-2 and Colorado Northwestern finished with an 0-3 slate.
The 3-0 Trappers had their stiffest test in their first match Friday, facing the Wyoming All Stars. Scores were 25-22, 25-21 and 25-20. Sidney Parker with 15 kills, Jacie Walker with 40 assists and Paige Weimer with 19 digs led the way against the All Stars.
In downing Colorado Northwestern, NWC’s scores were 27-25, 25-16 and 25-21. Baylee Peterson’s 12 kills, Jacie Walker’s 37 assists and three aces and Aubrianne Crosby’s 14 digs paced the Trappers.
In their Saturday morning win, scores were 25-19, 25-15 and 25-18 for the Trappers over Williston State. Sabree Adams led the way with nine kills. Keister called it an all-around team effort, with great play off the bench by Emma Teichert and Brook Palmer.