Months of hard work came down to a few points, with the Northwest Trapper volleyball team coming up short in two close matches at the Region IX tournament in Casper. They lost to Northeastern 3-1 on Wednesday and Otero 3-2 on Thursday.

NORTHEASTERN 3, NORTHWEST 1

Heading into the tournament the north No. 3 seed Trappers (20-12) were trying to take down south No. 2 seed Northeastern (22-13) for the second time this season after a sweep earlier in the year.

“We swept them so early in the season that both teams had changed so much, it didn’t mean much besides we knew we could play with them,” coach Scott Keister said.

Northwest came out early in the match and set a strong tone, pushing out to a quick 25-16 first set victory.

Northeastern responded, claiming its own quick victory in the second set 25-15.

The Plainswomen carried that momentum into the third set and claimed another victory 25-17.

Heading into the fourth set both teams battled hard for each and every point.

Northwest held a 21-19 lead late before a timeout from Northeastern.

Northeastern tied the match at 22 and 24, extending the match beyond 25.

Both teams continued to battle, with plays swinging in favor of Northeastern.

Despite hitting .351 with 17 kills as a team, Northwest lost the decisive fourth set 30-28.

“They battled, they played hard,” Keister said. “I can’t complain with how we played, we couldn’t dig the ball and that was the only bad stat we had. We dug 50% and we are normally at 90% — defense is what lost it for us.”

Megan Pannell led Northwest with 20 kills and was the only Trapper in double digits. 

Emma Hanson finished with 38 assists, Mia Sorensen and Pannell led the Trappers with 11 digs each.

Northeastern went on to win the second national qualifying spot from Region IX after winning the consolation championship on Saturday over Central Wyoming.

OTERO 3, NORTHWEST 2

After the loss on Wednesday, Northwest dropped down to the consolation bracket to take on Otero (12-27) who the Trappers also swept earlier in the year in Burns.

Much like Wednesday, Northwest came out strong early and put away the first set 25-16.

However, just like Wednesday, the Trappers lost the next two sets 25-19 and 25-21.

Unfortunately for Northwest, on top of losing those two sets, starting libero Ellie Thomas was injured during a collision in the third set and Sorensen was forced to step into her spot as libero in the fourth set.

“Mia did great,” Keister said. “She went in to replace Elsa (Clark) on Wednesday after Elsa got hurt in warmups and did great. Mia played amazing, that is what I recruited her to do.”

Sorensen came into the role and finished with 22 digs in the match to lead Northwest, alongside Brooke Palmer who finished with 18 digs.

In a mirror image of the Northeastern match, the Trappers and Rattlers extended well beyond the 25 points required to win — but this time Northwest found a way to come out on top 31-29.

“I think they learned from the day before and really battled,” Keister said. 

In the decisive fifth set the Trappers led early 5-4 before a 6-1 run by Otero forced a timeout by Northwest.

The Trappers battled back by winning the next four points, but were unable to overcome the deficit and fell 15-13 to end their season.

“You hate to blame officiating, but there were seven or eight bad calls on both sides,” Keister said. 

Megan Pannell again led Northwest with 17 kills just ahead of Palmer who had 15. Kim Pannell finished with 12 kills, Sidney Parker and Jocelyn Sanders both also finished with 10 kills.

Hanson finished the match with 61 assists for the Trappers.

SEASON WRAP UP

Injuries and illness affected Northwest throughout the season, with the Trappers never being able to play at 100% as a team.

Throughout the season Northwest played 21 different lineups due to different injuries or illness.

“I am hard pressed to find another team that I have coached that I am more proud of than this team,” Keister said. “You can play the ‘what if’ game, what if we were healthy? I think if we were healthy the whole year we would be going to nationals right now — but, life happens and you learn to deal with it.”

This season marked the second straight season the Trappers reached 20 wins after not reaching the mark for several years before Keister took the helm.

He said that shows the team is progressing, but was more proud of this 20-win season because of the more difficult schedule and the way the team battled through the various injuries.

Keister said the team will take a couple of weeks to decide who is returning to the team, as it heads into the offseason.

NORTHEASTERN 3, NORTHWEST 1

Kills — Megan Pannell 20, Brooke Palmer 9, Kim Pannell 6, Sidney Parker 6, Jocelyn Sanders 2, Mia Sorensen 1, Kamri Hutchings 1

Assists — Emma Hanson 38, Kamri Hutchings 6, Mia Sorensen 1

Digs — Mia Sorensen 11, Megan Pannell 11, Ellie Thomas 9, Emma Hanson 4, Brooke Palmer 4, Kim Pannell 1

Aces — Emma Hanson 3, Ellie Thomas 2, Sidney Parker 2, Brooke Palmer 1

Blocks — Sidney Parker 3, Jocelyn Sanders 2.5, Kim Pannell 2, Megan Pannell 2, Brooke Palmer 1, Mia Sorensen .5

OTERO 3, NORTHWEST 2

Kills — Megan Pannell 17, Brooke Palmer 15, Kim Pannell 12, Sidney Parker 10, Jocelyn Sanders 10

Assists — Emma Hanson 61, Kamri Hutchings 3

Digs — Mia Sorensen 22, Brooke Palmer 18, Ellie Thomas 13, Megan Pannell 13, Emma Hanson 11, Kim Pannell 4, Jocelyn Sanders 4, Sidney Parker 3

Aces — Megan Pannell 3, Ellie Thomas 1, Mia Sorensen 1, Brooke Palmer 1, Sidney Parker 1

Blocks — Kim Pannell 3, Jocelyn Sanders 3, Megan Pannell 2, Sidney Parker 1.5, Emma Hanson .5