Casper College swept through the regular season with a perfect 14-0 sub-region record and is ranked No. 12 in the latest National Junior College Athletics Association poll.

And the Thunderbirds enter today's Region IX North Volleyball Tournament as the odd's-on favorite to win the tourney for the third consecutive year.

T-Bird coach Angel Sharman, however, still is not satisfied with the way her team is playing.

"We've been working on being a balanced team all year," Sharman said, "but we're not there yet. We still have players looking to certain teammates to get things done.

"Our focus this weekend has to be on overall play. We have to realize it's more about the team getting it done than it is about individuals. We can't rely on one or two people to carry us."

That style of play has Casper at 29-8 heading into today's first-round game against Eastern Wyoming.

Sophomore hitters Katya Kopanarova and Konefesi Vaisigano can be powerful forces at the net, while freshman Marija Jovanovic has established herself as one of the best setters and blockers in Region IX.

Vaisigano is also one of the T-Birds' top players in the back row, along with Brianna Wood (Natrona County) and Kristin Glisczinski (Kelly Walsh).

Now Sharman hopes all that talent comes together at the right time again.

"I think it definitely helps that we have some players that know what it takes to win the tournament," Sharman said. "At this point of the season experience helps a lot because it doesn't really matter what we did earlier.

"This is a brand-new season and I'm sure we'll see some different things from teams that we didn't see earlier."

Host Central Wyoming and No. 18 Laramie County are expected to be the T-Birds' main competition, although Northwest also spent some time in the national rankings and pushed Casper to five games three weeks ago.

"We just have to make sure we stay consistent in what we're trying to do, especially on defense," Sharman said. "We can't look at the polls, but we do have to play like [the No. 12-ranked team].

"What it's going to come down to is whatever team makes the fewest mistakes is going to win it."

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com

T-Bird Tracker

WHAT: Region IX North Volleyball Tournament, Riverton.

WHEN: Today through Saturday.

SOAR FOR MORE? Casper College, the defending champion, was undefeated in the North sub-region during the regular season.

SHE SAID IT: "This is a brand-new sason and I'm sure we'll se some different things from teams that we didn't see earlier." -- Casper coach Angel Sharman.

UP NEXT: The winner advances to the NJCAA Tournament on Nov. 19-21 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.