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Trappers Debut At No. 20
On the eve of the Region IX North volleyball tournament, the Northwest College Trappers cracked the national rankings in the latest poll released by the NJCAA. The poll, released Wednesday morning, shows the Trappers ranked No. 20 in the nation.
“It is a great honor to be ranked in the top 20, but at the same time our work isn’t done,” said Trapper head coach Shaun Pohlman. “We still have to go out and play tonight (Wednesday) and at the regional tournament next week.”
Northwest College spent the three previous weeks receiving votes in the national volleyball poll, but not enough to earn a place within the top 20.
The Trappers are one of three Region IX North teams in the rankings this week. Western Wyoming, whom the Trappers recently beat to polish off a regular-season sweep of the Mustangs, is the highest-ranked Region IX North squad at No. 14. Central Wyoming, the only regional team to defeat the Trappers this season, sits at No. 16.
Despite that, it was Northwest College who stepped onto the floor of Cabre Gymnasium on Wednesday night for a chance to capture the overall regular-season title and sew up the No. 1 seed for the postseason tournament, which the Trappers are scheduled to host, starting Oct. 31.
The national ranking comes in head coach Shaun Pohlman’s second season with the Northwest College program. Trapper volleyball has now appeared in the national rankings at some point during three of the last four seasons.
This week’s national volleyball rankings are:
1. San Jacinto-Central 28-1
2. Western Nebraska 33-2
3. Southern Idaho 24-1
4. Iowa Western 35-2
5. Salt Lake 22-8
6. Tyler 24-3
7. Central Florida 28-6
8. North Idaho 18-4
9. Blinn 22-5
10. Miami Dade 14-5
11. Hillsborough 20-10
12. Missouri St.-West Plains 20-6
13. SCFManatee-Sarasota 21-6
14. Western Wyoming 18-12
15. Vernon 29-5
16. Central Wyoming 19-7
17. Hutchinson 20-6
18. Arizona Western 16-6
19. Florida St.-Jacksonville 16-10
20. NORTHWEST 18-11
Receiving votes: Indian Hills- Ottumwa, Kaskaskia, Lake Land, Yavapai, Pensacola St., Redlands, Seminole State, Snow, Hill, Paris, Trinity Valley, Laredo, Panola.