A disappointing weekend at home led to an 0-2 start in Region IX action for the Northwest College volleyball team on Friday and Saturday, losing to Western Wyoming 3-1 before being swept by Casper College on Saturday.

WESTERN WYOMING 3, NORTHWEST 1

(25-13, 18-25, 24-26, 22-25)

Kicking off conference action the Trappers (15-3 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) welcomed the Mustangs (13-5 overall, 1-1 Region IX North) to town on Friday.

Northwest got off to a strong start, coming out with a purpose and taking the lead early through a strong first set.

“The first set against Western was good. They came out with a lot of energy, a lot of purpose,” coach Scott Keister said. “They were really upset about Western Wyoming because they really put it to us both times last year. They wanted redemption.”

That strong first set resulted in a convincing 25-13 win after hitting .281 as a team with 12 kills.

A more difficult second set allowed the visitors to take advantage of hitting errors by the Trappers, resulting in the Mustangs winning 25-18 to tie the match 1-1.

In the third set the two teams battled point for point, and Northwest held a lead late until a rally by the visitors.

That resulted in a 26-24 win for Western, and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Western just edged out the Trappers in the fourth set to finish with a 25-22 win and end the match 3-1.

“We just gave up big chunks of points. We had leads I think in every set that we just couldn’t close it out,” Keister said. “It was just an unfortunate string of random stuff not going our way, but stuff we can control for sure.”

Brooke Larsen led with 13 kills, while Devree Gines led with 22 assists, ahead of Aidann Mottishaw with 17.

Sierra Kilts led with 18 digs.  Mottishaw was the other Trapper in double digits with 10.

Jordynel Anderson and Mottishaw tied for the team lead in blocks with three each, as Mottishaw had two solo blocks and Anderson had one.

Kilts led the Trappers with five aces.

CASPER COLLEGE 3, NORTHWEST 0

(25-14, 25-23, 25-17)

Heading into Saturday trying to salvage a weekend split the Trappers welcomed the Thunderbirds (4-17 overall, 1-1 Region IX North) to Cabre Gym.

Early on the block from the visitors caused problems from the Trappers, leading to poor hitting and a 13-7 deficit before a timeout from Keister.

Passing also proved to be an issue for Northwest, as Casper kept pushing and eventually ended with a 25-14 win.

“They did block well, but we were very predictable and we were hitting the same shots,” Keister said. “The passing wasn’t there, and when the passing falls apart it’s hard to get our offense the balls that we need.”

In the second, the two teams battled and exchanged the lead throughout with neither able to create a significant advantage.

Northwest held a 19-17 lead and forced a Casper timeout before the Thunderbirds responded and eventually took a 22-21 lead.

The Trappers regained the lead 23-22 before another small Casper burst won the set 25-23 and gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.

In the third the Trappers trailed throughout, but remained within striking distance.

Northwest got back in the contest down 18-16 and forced a Casper timeout, before the Thunderbirds scored seven of the last eight points and won the set 25-17.

“We served OK but we passed horribly,” Keister said. “We were up in that second set 23-22, and just like Friday, we couldn’t close it out. That’s what practice this week is all about is just being in those tight situations and learning how to put the ball away and learning how to win rallies. Especially long rallies, we don’t do very well in long rallies.”

Larsen and Taylor Wilson led with five kills, while Gines led with 16 assists.

Kilts led with 14 digs just ahead of Gines with 12.

Mottishaw led with 1.5 blocks, one solo, and Anderson led with two aces.

ROAD CONTESTS

The Trappers now head out on the road for three road contests this week, starting with Eastern Wyoming (14-6 overall, 2-0 Region IX North) at 6 p.m. on Friday in Torrington.

Northwest then heads to Cheyenne at 2 p.m. on Saturday to take on Laramie County Community College (6-13 overall, 1-1 Region IX North).

“Our whole conference is good this year,” Keister said. “I kind of like being on the road, there’s fewer distractions. We’ve got to figure out a way to stop giving up so many chunks of points all at one time and learn how to do it ourselves.”

The week wraps up Tuesday night at 6 p.m. when the Trappers head to Riverton to take on Central Wyoming (11-5 overall, 2-0 Region IX North).

WESTERN WYOMING 3, NORTHWEST 1

(25-13, 18-25, 24-26, 22-25)

Total blocks then solo blocks in ()

Kills — Brooke Larsen 13, Taylor Wilson 7, Aidann Mottishaw 7, Jordynel Anderson 5, Kennedy Oman 3, Sierra Kilts 2, Burkelle Field 1, Ellianna Baumstarck 1

Assists — Devree Gines 22, Aidann Mottishaw 17

Digs — Sierra Kilts 18, Aidann Mottishaw 10, Devree Gines 9, Brooke Larsen 8, Sadie Meier 5, Burkelle Field 3, Taylor Wilson 2, Ellianna Baumstarck 1, Jordynel Anderson 1

Blocks — Jordynel Anderson 3 (1), Aidann Mottishaw 3 (2), Burkelle Field 2 (1), Taylor Wilson 1.5 (1), Kennedy Oman 1, Alexis Grgich .5

Aces — Sierra Kilts 5, Brooke Larsen 4, Aidann Mottishaw 2, Devree Gines 1, Jordynel Anderson 1

CASPER COLLEGE 3, NORTHWEST 0

(25-14, 25-23, 25-17)

Kills — Brooke Larsen 5, Taylor Wilson 5, Aidann Mottishaw 4, Burkelle Field 3, Jordynel Anderson 3, Kennedy Oman 2, Sierra Kilts 1, Taylee Carlson 1

Assists — Devree Gines 16, Aidann Mottishaw 8

Digs — Sierra Kilts 14, Devree Gines 12, Aidann Mottishaw 8, Brooke Larsen 6, Sadie Meier 5, Jordynel Anderson 2, Taylor Wilson 1

Blocks — Aidann Mottishaw 1.5 (1), Brooke Larsen 1 (1), Kennedy Oman 1, Taylor Wilson 1, Tilli Danczyk .5, Jordynel Anderson .5, Taylee Carlson .5

Aces — Jordynel Anderson 2, Brooke Larsen 1, Sierra Kilts 1, Aidann Mottishaw 1, Sadie Meier 1