Your future, our focus
The Northwest College Trappers enjoyed their second winning weekend of the young volleyball season, going 3-1 in competition at Salt Lake City.
After dropping their first match to Salt Lake City Community College, the Trappers defeated Snow College for the second time in two weeks. They went on to top Northern Idaho, and closed out the weekend by defeating College of Southern Idaho, the team that handed them their only other loss so far this season.
The Trappers lost the first two sets to Salt Lake 25-21 and 25- 23, before finally turning things around to win the third set 25-23. The Bruins closed the match with a 25-23 win in the fourth set.
Head coach Shaun Pohlman attributed the loss to issues that distracted the team.
“There was some displaced energy,” Pohlman said. “There was emotion, but it wasn’t toward volleyball.”
Pohlman said the issue was addressed after the match and “the outcomes became more favorable.”
That success was apparent in the next match when the Trappers took Snow College in three sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23. They stumbled a bit in their next match, losing to Northern Idaho 25-23 in the first set, but came back strong to take the second set 25 20, and finished off the Cardinals with two more wins, 25-18 and 25-22.
Of the team’s turn-around Pohlman said the players had adjusted mentally after the loss to Salt Lake City, and they directed their energy toward the court.
“It’s amazing what being focused can do for you,” he said.
NWC’s momentum carried into the final match with Southern Idaho, who had defeated them in five sets the previous weekend. This time, though, the Trappers held off the Golden Eagles and won in three sets, 25- 22, 25-23, 25-19.
College of Southern Idaho went into the tournament ranked No. 2 in the nation, and NWC’s win might have elevated the Trappers to the top spot had it not been for the defeat at the hands of Salt Lake City. Right now, though, Pohlman said there is confusion about who should be No. 1.
“I feel sorry for the committee that ranks the teams. It will be very difficult for them to sift through all the results and make a decision,” he said.
Pohlman said he learned a little more about his team this weekend, and is now confident that he has three setters who can step in when they are needed. In addition, he said sophomore Kaite Johnson emerged as a hitter who can help out.
“Kaite came in and provided relief whenever we needed it,” he said. “(And) we’re four middles strong.”
Team spirit also emerged during the weekend, Pohlman said.
“I saw some kids that don’t necessarily play a lot really show some heart off the court,” he said. “We’re not just strong in the six playing on the court. They have a lot of love from those off the court, and I think it will help us in the long run.”
This weekend the Trappers will travel to Sterling, Colorado, where they will play Northeastern Junior College on Thursday night and then four matches over Friday and Saturday.
“Northeast is not a friendly place to play,” Pohlman said. “It will be good preparation for us when we get into the conference schedule.”