BACK IN FORM: NWC VOLLEYBALL WINS HOME WEEKEND

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Back at home after a three game road swing and some momentum following a win that snapped a four game losing streak, the Northwest College women's volleyball team earned two more wins, defeating the Rocky Mountain JV 3-1 and Gillette College 3-0.  

NORTHWEST 3, ROCKY MOUNTAIN JV 1
(25-12, 25-9, 23-25, 25-12)
Battling against the Battlin' Bears the Trappers (18-5 overall, 2-4 Region IX North) jumped out early against the visitors and took a 11-3 lead, forcing a timeout by the visitors.

Northwest did not slow down, making it 20-9 before forcing another timeout.

The Trappers finished with a 25-12 win, earning 10 kills in the initial set.

In the second set the Trappers did not slow down, jumping out to another 11-3 lead, and building it even larger this time to 21-7.

Northwest finished with a 25-9 win, hitting .478 as a team, recording 12 kills to only one error.

With a different lineup in the third set, the Battlin' Bears took the early lead, keeping the Trappers at arms' length throughout.

Northwest trailed 24-21 late but had a chance to come back and win after bringing it back to 24-23.

The Trappers came up short, falling 25-23 to force a fourth set.

Northwest did not give the visitors any hope of completing a comeback, jumping to a 10-3 lead early and cruising in the set to earn a 25-12 win and finish the 3-1 victory.

"It was actually a nice gauge for them to see, because I think Rocky has kind of maintained what they were the first time we saw them," coach Scott Keister said. "To see how much better we were against them, to see our improvement was nice."

Aidann Mottishaw led the Trappers with 10 kills, and was second in assists with 23 just behind Holland Stowe who returned to the lineup to provide 24 assists after an injury sidelined her for five games.

"She actually got cleared that morning, so I didn't know how much we were going to use her," Keister said. "It was a good match to throw her in there and get her some reps before we played a region match Saturday."

Sierra Kilts led with 16 digs, Brooke Larsen led with five aces while Burkelle Field and Tilli Danczyk tied for the team lead with 2.5 blocks, each having one solo.    

NORTHWEST 3, GILLETTE 0
(25-22, 25-21, 25-20)
Turning their attention to a Region IX opponent on Saturday the Trappers matched up with the Pronghorns (10-8 overall, 0-5 Region IX North), seeking a second win to finish the first half of the conference season.

"Just like everybody in our conference, their record is not reflective of how good or bad they are," Keister said. "They're a good team."

Both teams came out and fought point for point throughout the first set, as the Trappers just edged out the Pronghorns 25-22, recording two more kills 11-9 while having a slightly higher hitting percentage.

In the second set each team recorded a better hitting percentage, with minimal hitting errors leading to another close set.

Northwest once again pulled ahead late, finishing with a 25-21 win, as both teams recorded 11 kills and Northwest recorded one less error on more attempts. 

Another close set ensued in the third, with both teams recording high kills with low errors.

Northwest pulled away just enough in the middle of the set, and held on late to a 25-20 win to complete the sweep.

"All three were close; I expected it," Keister said. "I expected it to go maybe even four or five."

The Trappers had 14 kills in the final set, hitting .281 as a team, outlasting the Pronghorns who had 13 kills and hit .429 as a team.

Mottishaw led with 11 kills, Stowe led with 21 assists, Kilts led with 17 digs and Kennedy Oman led with 2.5 blocks.

Stowe, Mottishaw and Jordynel Anderson led with two aces each. Larsen added 12 digs and seven kills.   

BACK ON THE ROAD
Northwest now heads on the road, starting the second half of the conference season the way it began, with trips to Western Wyoming and Casper College.

The Trappers match up with the Mustangs (15-7 overall, 3-3 Region IX North) first at 6 p.m. on Friday, before heading to Casper to take on the Thunderbirds (6-20 overall, 3-4 Region IX North) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

"The second half of conference is going to be very interesting to see how it goes," Keister said. "Western Wyoming is a tough place to play. We never play well there, tough crowd … They're (Casper) playing well right now. It's another team that their record is not reflective of who they are."    

NORTHWEST 3, ROCKY MOUNTAIN JV 1
Total blocks then solo blocks in ()
Kills — Aidann Mottishaw 10, Brooke Larsen 8, Kennedy Oman 5, Burkelle Field 5, Alexis Grgich 5, Jordynel Anderson 5, Taylor Wilson 3, Tilli Danczyk 3, Taylee Carlson 3, Sierra Kilts 1
Assists — Holland Stowe 24, Aidann Mottishaw 23, Sierra Kilts 1
Digs — Sierra Kilts 16, Brooke Larsen 9, Aidann Mottishaw 8, Holland Stowe 4, Sadie Meier 4, Taylor Wilson 3, Kennedy Oman 1, Ellianna Baumstarck 1, DanniKa Barfuss 1, Alexis Grgich 1, Jordynel Anderson 1
Blocks — Burkelle Field 2.5 (1), Tilli Danczyk 2.5 (1), Kennedy Oman 2, Jordynel Anderson 2 (1), Aidann Mottishaw 2, Brooke Larsen .5, Alexis Grgich .5
Aces — Brooke Larsen 5, Sierra Kilts 3, Aidann Mottishaw 3, Sadie Meier 3, Holland Stowe 1, Jordynel Anderson 1   

NORTHWEST 3, GILLETTE 0
Kills — Aidann Mottishaw 11, Taylor Wilson 7, Brooke Larsen 5, Jordynel Anderson 5, Burkelle Field 4, Kennedy Oman 3, Holland Stowe 1
Assists — Holland Stowe 21, Aidann Mottishaw 12, Sierra Kilts 1
Digs — Sierra Kilts 17, Brooke Larsen 12, Aidann Mottishaw 7, Holland Stowe 3, Jordynel Anderson 3, Burkelle Field 2, Taylor Wilson 2, Sadie Meier 1
Blocks — Kennedy Oman 2.5 (1), Burkelle Field 2, Taylor Wilson 2 (2), Jordynel Anderson 1.5, Aidann Mottishaw 1.5 (1), Brooke Larsen .5
Aces — Holland Stowe 2, Jordynel Anderson 2, Aidann Mottishaw 2, Brooke Larsen 1, Sadie Meier 1