Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
One last road trip north for nonconference action saw the Northwest College volleyball team wrap up the first half of the season with a 15-1 record and head into Region IX play on a high note.
The Trappers defeated Miles Community College 3-0, Dawson Community College 3-1 and Williston State College 3-0.
NORTHWEST 3, MILES CC 0
(25-17, 25-23, 25-20)
Kicking off the action on Wednesday, the Trappers (15-1) matched up with the Pioneers (8-11) for the third time this season.
Northwest started out strong and pulled ahead for a first set win 25-17.
In the second set, despite a stronger hitting percentage by the Trappers, a high amount of hitting errors made it a closer set against the Pioneers, but Northwest held on for a 25-23 win.
The Trappers held on once again in a close third set for a 25-20 win to complete the sweep.
Brooke Larsen led with 10 kills, just ahead of Aidann Mottishaw with nine.
Holland Stowe had 17 assists, with Mottishaw just behind with 15.
Mottishaw led with 10 digs, just ahead of Larsen and Sierra Kilts with nine.
Kennedy Oman had 4.5 blocks, as Northwest combined for 13 in the match.
Stowe had five aces and was the only Trapper with multiples in the match.
NORTHWEST 3, DAWSON CC 1
(25-15, 25-21, 18-25, 25-15)
Continuing up the road to Glendive, Montana, the Trappers matched up with the Buccaneers (3-18) for the second time this season.
Northwest started out strong once again, building a strong advantage before finishing with a 25-15 first set win.
The Trappers held on in a closer second set, winning 25-21 to take the 2-0 lead.
Dawson carried over what momentum it had from that close second set and pulled ahead in the third set for a 25-18 win to force a fourth set.
Looking to avoid a fifth set, the Trappers jumped out early and pulled ahead comfortably for a 25-15 win to finish the match 3-1.
Mottishaw led with 10 kills while Larsen had eight.
Stowe had 22 assists and Mottishaw tallied 13.
Kilts led with 13 digs and Larsen recorded eight.
Oman led once again with four blocks, two of them solo, while Stowe led with five aces as Northwest recorded 14 in the match.
NORTHWEST 3, WILLISTON STATE 0
(25-14, 25-21, 25-21)
Wrapping up the road trip the Trappers jumped over to North Dakota, taking on the Tetons (4-13) to finish the majority of their nonconference action.
Northwest came out strong, recording 13 kills in the first set to five for Williston to take a 25-14 win.
Errors in the second set made it closer, but the Trappers held on for a 25-21 win to take a 2-0 lead.
Strong hitting from both teams in the third made it a battle to the end, but the Trappers held on for yet another 25-21 win to complete the sweep.
Taylor Wilson and Jordynel Anderson led with nine kills each, Stowe had 23 assists while Mottishaw had 11.
Kilts had 13 digs to lead the Trappers, Oman and Wilson tied with two blocks, while Anderson led with four aces in the match.
NATIONAL POLLS
Northwest has been receiving votes in the NJCAA national volleyball poll for several weeks following their upset of then No. 5-ranked Salt Lake Community College, but have not broken into the top 20 yet this season.
The Trappers sit as the second team receiving votes outside the top 20, just ahead of Western Wyoming and Trinidad State, while Northeastern Junior College is the only ranked Region IX team at No. 4.
REGION IX OPENERS
Northwest will open action against one of those other teams receiving votes this week in the national polls, taking on the Western Wyoming Mustangs (12-4) at 6 p.m. on Friday at Cabre Gym.
The Trappers then turn their attention to the Casper College Thunderbirds (3-16) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
NORTHWEST 3, MILES CC 0
(25-17, 25-23, 25-20)
Total blocks then solo blocks in ()
Kills — Brooke Larsen 10, Aidann Mottishaw 9, Burkelle Field 6, Kennedy Oman 3, Taylor Wilson 3, Jordynel Anderson 3
Assists — Holland Stowe 17, Aidann Mottishaw 15, Brooke Larsen 1, Sierra Kilts 1
Digs — Aidann Mottishaw 10, Brooke Larsen 9, Sierra Kilts 9, Sadie Meier 6, Burkelle Field 3, Holland Stowe 3, Kennedy Oman 2
Blocks — Kennedy Oman 4.5 (1), Burkelle Field 3, Jordynel Anderson 2.5, Aidann Mottishaw 2.5, Brooke Larsen .5
Aces — Holland Stowe 5, Taylor Wilson 1, Jordynel Anderson 1, Sadie Meier 1
NORTHWEST 3, DAWSON CC 1
(25-15, 25-21, 18-25, 25-15)
Kills — Aidann Mottishaw 10, Brooke Larson 8, Kennedy Oman 6, Burkelle Field 6, Alexis Grgich 2, Tilli Danczyk 2, Taylor Wilson 1, Taylee Carlson 1
Assists — Holland Stowe 22, Aidann Mottishaw 13, Sadie Meier 1
Digs — Sierra Kilts 13, Brooke Larsen 8, Aidann Mottishaw 7, Holland Stowe 5, Sadie Meier 5, Jordynel Anderson 3, Kennedy Oman 1, Taylor Wilson 1, DanniKa Barfuss 1, Alexis Grgich 1
Blocks — Kennedy Oman 4 (2), Burkelle Field 3 (1), Jordynel Anderson 3 (1), Taylor Wilson 1, Taylee Carlson 1 (1), Tilli Danczyk .5, Aidann Mottishaw .5
Aces — Holland Stowe 5, Sadie Meier 3, Brooke Larsen 2, Sierra Kilts 2, Taylee Carlson 1, Aidann Mottishaw 1
NORTHWEST 3, WILLISTON STATE 0
(25-14, 25-21, 25-21)
Kills — Taylor Wilson 9, Jordynel Anderson 9, Aidann Mottishaw 7, Kennedy Oman 5, Burkelle Field 3, Brooke Larsen 2
Assists — Holland Stowe 23, Aidann Mottishaw 11, Sierra Kilts 1
Digs — Sierra Kilts 13, Brooke Larsen 7, Holland Stowe 5, Jordynel Anderson 4, Aidann Mottishaw 4, Sadie Meier 4, Taylor Wilson 2
Blocks — Kennedy Oman 2, Taylor Wilson 2 (1), Jordynel Anderson 1.5, Aidann Mottishaw 1.5, Brooke Larsen .5, Burkelle Field .5
Aces — Jordynel Anderson 4, Holland Stowe 3, Brooke Larsen 1, Sadie Meier 1