Your future, our focus
NWC Spiker Verbally Commits to Play Division I
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
Known best for the blistering kills she cracked across the net the past two seasons for the Northwest College Trappers, outside hitter Irelis Ilarraza is now blazing a trail for future teammates to follow. The Trapper sophomore announced on Thursday that she plans to accept an NCAA Division I scholarship offer to play next season at Florida Gulf Coast University.
"It feels great. It's a big step," said Ilarraza, who came to Powell from Veroes, Venezuela. "I liked the place, the people, the team and coaches when I visited."
"It is a good fit for her," said Trapper head coach Flavia Siqueira. "They have a lot of international players so she'll blend well with the team. Their assistant coach is from Brazil, so a lot of what she learned here will help her down there too."
Ilarraza was a key element in Northwest College's run to the Region IX North title and a place in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament field. She owns a career attack percentage of .302 during her two-year Trapper career and will leave Powell with a legacy of 610 kills - 386 of which came this season - and 87 blocks at the net.
She selected the offer from Florida Gulf Coast over similar offers from other Division I schools like Virginia Commonwealth and St. John's University. Tennessee had also expressed an interest in Ilarraza since the team's return from the national tournament.
"She had a good year," Siqueira said. "Obviously, going to the national tournament helped increase her visibility as well."
"I think everything will be a challenge," said Ilarraza. "I'll be meeting new people and playing for a new team."
Florida Gulf Coast went 18- 13 this past fall. The school advanced to the championship game of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. Ilarraza plans to remain at Northwest to take classes in the spring and summer before traveling to Florida to join her new team for the fall season.