TRAPPERS STUMBLE IN CONFERENCE OPENERS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

The opening weekend of Region IX play did not yield positive results for the Northwest College volleyball team after the Trappers were swept by Casper College and Western Wyoming on the road on Friday and Saturday.    

CASPER COLLEGE 3, NORTHWEST 0
(11-25, 16-25, 13-25)

After a difficult non-conference slate the Trappers (6-14 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) continued their month-long road trip in Casper (15-9 overall, 2-0 Region IX North) on Friday.

The Thunderbirds came out swinging, taking advantage of a fast offense and taking the first set comfortably 25-11 over the Trappers.

"They play a fast offense so it took us a minute to catch up," coach Scott Keister said.

Northwest adjusted in the second set and kept the match tighter with a positive hitting percentage but Casper finished with a 25-16 second set win.

The Trappers hitting finished negative in the third set, allowing Casper to finish with a 25-13 victory to complete the sweep.

Northwest finished with 15 kills in the match compared to 40 for Casper, along with a negative hitting percentage while Casper hit near .300.

Despite the loss, Keister said the Trappers felt positive about how they were playing by the end of the match.

"We walked out of there going, 'OK, we are doing some good things,'" Keister said. "We got a little better each set … I thought knowing Casper is one of the top teams in the region we played OK."

Ellie Thomas led with 15 digs alongside two aces for the Trappers, while Elsa Clark had three aces in the match.    

WESTERN WYOMING 3, NORTHWEST 0
(18-25, 9-25, 23-25)

Continuing down the road to Rock Springs on Saturday the Trappers matched up with the Mustangs (14-7 overall, 2-0 Region IX North) to finish the road trip.

The same recipe followed as the day prior, with Western out-hitting Northwest in the first set and taking a 1-0 lead after a 25-18 win.

Northwest started strong in the second set, winning the first five points.

From that point forward the Mustangs dominated the set, outscoring the Trappers 25-4 the rest of the way and earning a 25-9 win.

The third set was close between the two teams, battling point for point before the Mustangs pulled off a close win 25-23 and complete the sweep.

"We served well, passed well, our defense was OK but we don't have players that can terminate the ball," Keister said. "That's what we are working on all week. Finding a way to score, understanding we are not a team that is big and powerful and working smarter not harder."

Northwest was closer in kills with Western, losing the count 31-26 while not having a negative hitting percentage.

Even though the Trappers have lost 10 of their last 11 matches, Keister knows the team is continuing to focus on improving each day while moving forward.

"I like the direction we are going even though the scores aren't showing it right now," Keister said. "It's frustrating to keep losing as much as we are but there is progress being made so that is good."   

DIFFICULT HOME RETURN
Northwest will return to Cabre Gym this weekend for the first time since Aug. 26, and will welcome in a big opponent to kick off the home conference campaign.

That opponent is NJCAA No. 18-ranked Laramie County Community College (17-4 overall, 2-2 Region IX North) at 6 p.m. on Friday.

"It'll be fun for the kids to be back home," Keister said. "We like playing the good teams. I realize we may not be getting the results that people outside our team or inside our team want. From a coach's standpoint and a player's standpoint we are OK. They are embracing the process."

That will be followed by a matchup with Eastern Wyoming (7-13 overall, 1-1 Region IX North) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.      

CASPER COLLEGE 3, NORTHWEST 0
(11-25, 16-25, 13-25)
Total blocks then solo blocks in ()
Kills — Kennedy Oman 3, Jordynel Anderson 3, Taylor Wilson 3, Kamri Hutchings 2, Elsa Clark 2, Burkelle Field 1, Sierra Kilts 1
Assists — Kamryn Jenkins 7, Kamri Hutchings 5, Ellie Thomas 1, Elsa Clark 1, Sierra Kilts 1
Digs — Ellie Thomas 15, Elsa Clark 5, Sierra Kilts 4, Kamryn Jenkins 2, Taylor Wilson 1
Blocks — Mikey Pilila'au 2 (2), Taylor Wilson 1.5 (1), Kennedy Oman .5
Aces — Elsa Clark 3, Ellie Thomas 2, Taylor Wilson 1   

WESTERN WYOMING 3, NORTHWEST 0
(18-25, 9-25, 23-25)
Kills — Kennedy Oman 8, Jordynel Anderson 6, Taylor Wilson 6, Elsa Clark 2, Kamri Hutchings 1, Burkelle Field 1
Assists — Kamri Hutchings 14, Kamryn Jenkins 9, Taylor Wilson 1
Digs — Ellie Thomas 19, Elsa Clark 6, Taylor Wilson 4, Kamri Hutchings 2, Sierra Kilts 2, Alexis Grgich 2, Kennedy Oman 2, Kamryn Jenkins 2
Blocks — Kennedy Oman 2, Kamri Hutchings 1, Taylor Wilson 1 (1), Burkelle Field .5, Elsa Clark .5
Aces — Ellie Thomas 3, Sierra Kilts 1