Your future, our focus
Tired legs caught up to the Northwest volleyball team on Oct. 19 when the Trappers were swept 3-0 at home by No. 5-ranked Central Wyoming.
Heading into the match against the Rustlers (18-7 overall, 8-0 Region IX North), the Trappers (19-9 overall, 5-3 Region IX North) were playing their fourth match in seven days and had been on a four-day road trip for three of those matches.
“The energy was good before the match, the energy was good in warmups but then there was just no questioning that we were bad,” coach Scott Keister said.
Northwest came out and competed early, but still trailed 10-6.
From that point forward Central took complete control of the matchup, pushing that small lead out to 23-8 before finishing the first set 25-12.
The second set started worse for the Trappers, who fell behind 7-1.
Central continued to apply the pressure, and pushed the lead further out to 13-3.
Northwest was unable to challenge the Rustlers the rest of the way and dropped the second set 25-15.
In the final set, the Trappers remained close early down 10-8.
From that point forward, an 8-3 run by the Rustlers helped them pull away to win the final set 25-18.
“We were not getting off the ground like we normally do — 90% of our kills were on tips and you don’t have to be explosive to get those,” Keister said.
He said that after watching the film, due to poor defensive positioning and errors, the Trappers gave the Rustlers 67 of their 75 points.
That loss was the Trappers second of the season at home, moving their record to 8-2 in Cabre Gym.
REST WEEKSince that match just over a week ago, Keister said he has given his team a chance to regroup and rest before returning to compete in their final two regular season matches.
“They are exhausted and you can see it,” Keister said.
The team has had a chance to take part in rehabbing small injuries, recovering and getting involved in the community abroad.
“They need to go have a little fun,” Keister said. “They are going to be hanging out and going to have fun as a team … I encouraged them to recover and get out to serve people in the community.”
FINAL HOME MATCHESNorthwest stays at home to close out its season, starting with a match Friday against Western Wyoming (8-25 overall, 1-7 Region IX North) at 6 p.m.
The Trappers will hope to complete the season sweep over Western Wyoming, after winning the first match in Rock Springs 3-1 just three weeks ago.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. the Trappers will welcome Casper College (6-25 overall, 3-6 Region IX North).
Northwest swept the T-Birds on their home court three weeks ago and will also look for the regular season sweep on Saturday.
The Friday match will be sophomore night for the Trappers, while Saturday will be autograph day for Northwest.
Currently the Trappers sit at the No. 3 seed in the Region IX North, with a game in hand over Laramie County Community College who sits above Northwest at the No. 2 seed.
If Northwest wins both games it likely will move up to that No. 2 seed, but is locked in to at least the No. 3 seed and has secured a spot in the Region IX Tournament in Casper next week.
CENTRAL WYOMING 3, NORTHWEST 0Kills — Sidney Parker 8, Megan Pannell 5, Jocelyn Sanders 2, Kim Pannell 2, Brooke Palmer 1, Elsa Clark 1, Emma Hanson 1Assists — Emma Hanson 19, Megan Pannell 1Digs — Kim Pannell 8, Ellie Thomas 6, Megan Pannell 4, Emma Hanson 2, Keaton Lynn 1, Brooke Palmer 1, Sidney Parker 1Aces — Ellie Thomas 1, Megan Pannell 1Blocks — Kim Pannell 1, Sidney Parker .5, Jocelyn Sanders .5