{gallery}09_02_10/volleyball{/gallery}Sophomore Corianne McKearney reaches to deliver a kill as setter Kadi Cooley, who set up the attack, watches during the Powell Lady Panthers' four-set win over Lovell Tuesday. The non-conference match was the home opener for the team, which travels to Billings this weekend for the Montana-Wyoming Challenge at Billings Central High School. Tribune photo by Don Amend Panthers roar back after early game one stumble The Powell Lady Panthers got off to a shaky start in their volleyball home opener, but recovered to knock off Lovell Tuesday night.While they struggled at times, the Lady Panthers came back from an opening game loss to score two solid wins, and held off a late Lovell rally to defeat the Lady Bulldogs 23-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-21.

The girls struggled to find their rhythm in game one, and had trouble putting a string of points together, which coach Cindi Smith attributed to first-game nerves playing in front of their home crowd.

“With just two returning starters, most of the kids were in that position for the first time,” Smith said. “To be at home in your first varsity match is different than playing a sub-varsity match or in a tournament away from home.”

Even so, the Lady Panthers managed to stay with Lovell, despite making a number of unforced errors and encountering some effective blocking by the Lady Bulldogs. They regained the serve trailing 24-20 and rallied for three points behind Hannah Groves' serve, but Lovell ended the game with a kill to lead the match 1-0.

In game two, though, the Panthers quickly built a 7-2 lead, fueled by big block from Corianne McKearney and a wicked serve by Randi Asay that dropped in for an ace. The lead grew to 22-10 with Olivia Rogers contributing some big hits before Lovell put together a run. The run ended when a Lovell serve sailed long, and Powell scored the last three points, mostly on Lovell errors, to even the match at one game apiece with the 25-14.

Game three was more of the same. The Lady Panthers played a methodical game both offensively and defensively, and again the set ended on a Lady Bulldog error for another 25-14 win.

Game four looked like a repeat of the two previous sets, with Powell taking the lead and running it to 21-9. But then the Lady Bulldogs came alive and run off six straight points. Asay ended the ran with a kill from the left and Kendra Ostrom brought the score to 23 with a kill of her own. Lovell regained the serve, though, and ran off another six-point streak to come within two of the Lady Panthers.

But the next Lovell serve went into the net and Powell regained the serve at game point. Lovell managed to dig a hard hit down the middle by Rogers, but the ball sailed close to the net. A Lovell attempt to tip the ball over the net was foiled by McKearney, who tipped it back to the Lovell side for the final point.

Smith said that, while happy with the win, her girls were a little disappointed in their play, but she said the match was a good learning experience.

“It's good to have matches where you can see what you need to work on,” Smith said. “We're still working on our rotation, and we changed things from last week.”

Smith said the team had met one goal they set for themselves after last week's tournament in Riverton, during which they served with 91 percent accuracy. They wanted to do better against Lovell, and they did, putting 92 percent of their serves in play. Kadi Cooley, Rogers and Groves all served at 100 percent. Four of Asay's serves were aces as were three of Groves' and McKearney hit for two aces.

Statistically, Rogers led the team in kills with 15. Asay contributed nine and Ostrom eight. The trio also led defensively, with Rogers and Asay both making eight and Ostrom six. Rogers also recorded two unassisted blocks and two assists, and McKearney added two unassisted blocks and one assist.

This weekend the Lady Panthers go to Billings for the second annual Montana-Wyoming Challenge at Billings Central High School. Powell will be joined by Cody, Lovell, Worland, Lander and Jackson in representing Wyoming. Montana schools in the competition will by Hardin, Glendive, Miles City, Laurel, Sidney and Billings Central. The teams will play in two pools on Friday and be seeded into bracket play on Saturday.

Smith said she knows nothing about any of the three Montana schools her team will play on Friday, but she is optimistic about her team's chances. Senior Liz Tilley will join the squad for the first time, adding a new dimension, and she believes her younger players will continue to improve.

“I know we have a lot of growth in us,” Smith said.