Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
Northwest College volleyball reached the midway point of its seven game road swing, heading to Rock Springs and Casper, and walking away with a 3-1 victory over Western Wyoming and 3-0 sweep of Casper College.
NORTHWEST 3, WESTERN WYOMING 1
Starting out the weekend on Friday, the Trappers (17-7 overall, 4-1 Region IX North) made their way down to Rock Springs to take on the Mustangs (7-22 overall, 0-5 Region IX North).
Northwest started out the first set strong, hitting .211 as a team and winning the first set 25-18.
The Trappers followed that up with an even stronger second set, hitting .306 as a team and extending their lead out to 2-0 (25-16).
Northwest tried to finish Western in the third set, but the Mustangs had their best overall hitting set and took the third 25-20.
The Trappers did not have their best hitting set again in the fourth set, but did just enough to pull ahead at the end and defeat Western 25-19 to seal the win.
“The girls are finding a way to win,” coach Scott Keister said.
Megan Pannell finished with 14 kills, just one ahead of Sidney Parker who finished with 13.
Ellie Thomas led the way with 20 digs and Emma Hanson had 41 assists.
NORTHWEST 3, CASPER COLLEGE 0
After the win in Rock Springs, the Trappers made their way up to Casper to take on the T-Birds (4-23 overall, 1-4 Region IX North) on Saturday.
In the first set, Northwest held a steady lead but Casper cut it down to 16-13 and forced a timeout from Keister.
The T-Birds took advantage of the timeout and tied it at 16, before Northwest pushed the lead back out to 20-17 and forced a Casper timeout.
Northwest held off a late charge by the T-Birds and won the first set 25-21.
Both teams came out strong to start the second, with the score tied at seven.
The Trappers created a small lead, and out of a Casper timeout, Northwest saw that lead swell to 20-14.
Northwest finished the set behind strong serving and won 25-16 to take a 2-0 lead.
“Serving is a funny skill,” Keister said. “I tell them that side of the court is the same size as a helicopter landing pad and if a helicopter can land there then so can a little ball.”
Casper started the third set strong by rattling off the first three points.
Keister called a timeout, and the Trappers responded and scored seven of the next eight points to force a Casper timeout.
Northwest extended the lead out to five and forced another Casper timeout.
The Trappers maintained a strong lead until Casper charged back late to make it 19-15 and force a timeout from Northwest.
Any late charge came up short, and Northwest walked away with a sweep after a 25-22 final set.
“I did not expect to get Casper in three,” Keister said. “We only played seven… We wanted to get out in three and limit the reps.”
Pannell again led the way with 10 kills and Parker followed with nine.
Hanson led the way in both digs and assists, finishing with 16 and 31.
FINAL ROAD GAMES
A seven game roadtrip for Northwest will come to an end this weekend, starting with a match against Otero Junior College (8-20 overall, 2-3 Region IX South) in Burns at 7 p.m.
Keister expects the return of Kim Pannell to the lineup this weekend. She was available to play in the Western Wyoming and Casper matches but was held out. Pannell was the team’s leader in kills prior to her injury.
Northwest then returns to Region IX North play on Friday, making the trip to Torrington to take on Eastern Wyoming (3-16 overall, 2-3 Region IX North) at 6 p.m.
“Eastern has been playing well at home and they played us well here so I am expecting a dog-fight,” Keister said.
Another important game will follow on Saturday, as the Trappers finish up road play for Region IX in Cheyenne, taking on Laramie County Community College (12-9 overall, 3-2 Region IX North).
Northwest will play its first home game in three weeks next Wednesday, Oct. 19, against No. 9-ranked Central Wyoming (15-7 overall, 5-0 Region IX North).
NORTHWEST 3, WESTERN WYOMING 1
Kills — Megan Pannell 14, Sidney Parker 13, Brooke Palmer 9, Jocelyn Sanders 7, Elsa Clark 5, Emma Hanson 2, Kamri Hutchings 1
Assists — Emma Hanson 41, Kamri Hutchings 6, Brooke Palmer 2, Sidney Parker 1, Jocelyn Sanders 1
Digs — Ellie Thomas 20, Megan Pannell 14, Brooke Palmer 10, Sidney Parker 9, Emma Hanson 6, Mia Sorensen 4, Elsa Clark 4
Aces — Emma Hanson 1, Ellie Thomas 1, Brooke Palmer 1
Blocks — Jocelyn Sanders 2.5, Emma Hanson 2, Sidney Parker 2, Megan Pannell 2, Elsa Clark 1.5
NORTHWEST 3, CASPER COLLEGE 0
Kills — Megan Pannell 10, Sidney Parker 9, Brooke Palmer 6, Elsa Clark 4, Jocelyn Sanders 4, Emma Hanson 1
Assists — Emma Hanson 31, Ellie Thomas 2, Sidney Parker 1
Digs — Emma Hanson 16, Ellie Thomas 11, Sidney Parker 11, Megan Pannell 9, Elsa Clark 5, Brooke Palmer 2, Jocelyn Sanders 1
Aces — Brooke Palmer 2, Elsa Clark 2, Ellie Thomas 1, Sidney Parker 1
Blocks — Megan Pannell 3, Jocelyn Sanders 2.5, Elsa Clark 2, Sidney Parker 1, Brooke Palmer .5