Your future, our focus
ROCK SPRINGS — The unranked Northwest College volleyball team started its season on a high note Friday.
The Trappers knocked off No. 10-ranked San Jacinto College with a 25-17, 28-26, 25-22 sweep during a tournament at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs.
NWC followed that performance with a tough four-set loss to No. 8 Salt Lake Community College, falling 22-25, 29-27, 19-25, 21-25.
Saturday saw the Trappers split two more matches in the tourney, losing to Snow College (20-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-25) before topping Colorado Northwestern (25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22).
After sitting out the entire 2013 season with a leg injury, sophomore Nicci Bloomer led the Trappers with a .444 hitting efficiency. Sophomore Elisa Brooks collected 59 digs on the weekend to go with eight service aces, while fellow sophomore Kimber Call dished out 97 assists. Aleksandra Djordjevic knocked down 32 kills, and Megan Huddleston and Teodora Tepavac each had 27.
NWC coach Shaun Pohlman was happy to see his team start out on the right foot, showing flashes of the will to survive he spoke of earlier this month.
“We’re not flawless, but that’s OK because it’s only the first week. We’re going to have ups and downs,” Pohlman said. “But we played like an unranked team that wants to prove they’re good, and prove that they shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Pohlman also complimented the play of reserves Emily Herrera, Kristen Bailey and Aimee Molina, whom he said proved that the Trappers have both a deep and talented roster this season.
“This team is a lot like a basketball team, in that you can’t just rely on your starting five, so to speak,” he added. “We can rely on our bench too. And our reserves proved that we can maintain a strong level of play as we go deeper into our roster.”
NWC will resume play Friday when it travels to Sheridan for a Golden Dome Invitational Tournament opener at noon against Great Falls.