Powell High School volleyball players suggested that last season, low expectations statewide allowed the Panthers to take the competition by surprise.

No such luck this year.

After winning the Class 3A state championship in 2013, PHS senior Kelsey Marchant summed up her team’s current situation as a definite challenge.

“We definitely have a huge target on our backs,” Marchant said.

That should come as no surprise. But with a majority of last fall’s team returning to coach Cindi Smith’s squad this year, the Panthers already smell a potential repeat.

“You still want to keep it fun around here, but we’re all obviously pretty serious about taking home another state title,” said senior and 2013 All-State selection Jenni Ebersberger.

Ebersberger should play a large role in the Panthers’ success again this season after leading the team in digs (567) and service aces (76) last year.

After finishing 27-10 last fall, room for improvement record-wise may be marginal, but Marchant believes that improvement will come from experience.

“A lot of the girls that played on our state team last year are still here, so we have a lot of experience on the court and that gives us a huge advantage,” Marchant said. “We’re all familiar with the state court and what it feels like to be on a varsity team and the intensity level.

“Plus, we all have great rhythm and flow together because we’ve been playing together for so long.”

What should be admired about the Panthers under Smith is the team’s willingness to accept and mesh with younger talent.

In 2013, Kalina Smith earned All-State honors of her own as a freshman, and figures to be a main cog in the Panther machine this year. Her 444 kills were a team high, and the youngster has no intentions of slowing down.

“I was kind of the freshman that didn’t really listen last year and just did my own thing out there,” Kalina Smith joked. “But the older girls accepted me and we really meshed well together. I didn’t feel intimidated at all and I think that helped me succeed and help my team.”

On a team of 10 players, the Panthers boast a veteran presence with six seniors. Coach Smith expressed excitement over what that could mean for how Powell performs down the stretch.

“What’s great is that these girls know what it feels like to go and to win state,” she said. “And what’s even better is that no one is comfortable or complacent with that, because they all want more this year.”

Getting more could be tough from the very outset, as the Panthers start the season Friday at the Douglas Invite at Douglas High School. Powell outlasted Douglas in four sets to win the state championship last season. Visits to Rawlins and Jackson Hole also plug up the schedule, two teams that also earned state berths a year ago.

“They understand the pressure that comes with defending a state championship,” Cindi Smith added about her team. “But I definitely think they’re ready to accept that pressure and answer the challenge all season.”