Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
Finding a place that had a sense of community like Powell, “but bigger,” was a goal for sophomore Paige Weimer when she was searching for her next step in her volleyball and academics career.
Drawing interest from a number of four-year programs, Weimer had a decision to make. She made the decision to take the leap to Surprise, Arizona, and signed with the University of Ottawa on Friday to compete with the Spirit.
“When I went on my visit I really liked the coaches, the team and the area,” Weimer said.
Competing at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level, Ottawa is a relatively new volleyball program that got its start back in 2017 and has quickly become one of the top teams in the nation.
The Spirit finished last year with a 26-4 record, winning their conference and advancing to the NAIA national tournament for the first time in their history.
During her career at Northwest, Weimer was a two time selection to the All-Region team as a libero, and set some Trapper records along the way.
Weimer holds two of the top 10 seasons for digs in Northwest history, including this past season where she racked up the most in school history with 504 digs.
Both of those seasons for the Trappers added up as Weimer accumulated the most digs for the Trappers — holding the all-time record with 923 digs in her two-year career in Powell.
Weimer was part of a program that has helped turn around the Trapper volleyball program, as they improved their 5-22 record from 2020 to 24-7 this past season.
“We will definitely have some big shoes to fill with Paige leaving, but we are excited for her next opportunity and we are proud of how she will represent Northwest College,” head coach Scott Keister said.
Due to COVID-19, Weimer will have the opportunity to play for three years at Ottawa as athletes competing during the pandemic were afforded an extra year to compete at the collegiate level.
Weimer said she wants to compete for the starting spot immediately this upcoming fall, and is hoping to help better the program as they continue their rise in the NAIA ranks.
“They are a relatively new program so they have only ever gotten transfers, I am hoping to start and even break some records there,” Weimer said.
One thing is for certain, there are certainly big shoes to fill for Keister and the Trappers as Weimer takes her next step to the four-year level.