A strong season came up just short for the Powell Panther volleyball team, which capped off the 2023 campaign as runners-up in class 3A. Powell won matches against Torrington and Douglas 3-1 before losing in the championship game 3-1 to Mountain View, which won its second consecutive state title in Casper on Saturday.

POWELL 3, TORRINGTON 1

(25-22, 20-25, 25-9, 25-9)

Returning to state for the second year in a row, the Panthers (27-8) came in as the top seed out of the west to match up against the No. 4 seed out of the east, Torrington (13-22-1).

Looking to play spoilers, the Trailblazers came out early and built a small lead to force a Powell timeout at 12-8.

That lead only grew, building to as much as 19-10 with Powell using its second timeout.

“It wasn’t a great start, I really wanted (us) to come out strong,” coach Lesli Spencer said.

The Panthers started chipping away, cutting the lead in half and forcing a Trailblazer timeout.

Continuing to push on, Powell found its way back into the set and took the lead through an Addy Thorington ace to go up 23-22.

Powell finished the set after a net error by Torrington for a 25-22 win.

In the second set, it was Powell that had a small lead before the two teams started to exchange the lead back and forth.

Neither team was able to create a significant advantage, until Torrington had a late surge.

That late surge allowed the Trailblazers to pull ahead and tie the match at a set apiece with a 25-20 win.

In the third set the Panthers came out with a purpose, bursting out the gate to a 7-0 advantage.

That lead grew and forced an early timeout, as Powell started firing on all cylinders.

Powell dominated the set, finishing with a 25-9 win to take a 2-1 lead.

That momentum carried into the fourth set, with Powell jumping out to a 10-0 lead this time.

Looking to finish the match in four the Panthers continued to push, and finished with an identical 25-9 victory to advance to the semifinals on Friday.

“We played well enough to win in four,” Spencer said. “Would have loved to have a little more control of the game to have some bench players see some time on the court but it wasn’t in the stars on Thursday.”

Thorington led with 28 kills and two aces, Stevee Walsh led with 35 assists and tied for the team lead in digs with 14 alongside Waycee Harvey and Alexa Richardson while Saige Kidd led with three blocks.

POWELL 3, DOUGLAS 1

(24-26, 25-23, 25-16, 27-25)

Winning on Thursday meant the Panthers advanced to the semifinals for the second year in a row, this time matching up with the east No. 2 seed Douglas Bearcats (27-13).

Powell had a stronger start Friday, jumping out to a 9-6 lead.

Douglas had an answer, taking the lead and growing it to 15-12 and forcing a timeout from the Panthers.

Powell continued to trail by the same margin, and called a second timeout down 22-19.

The Panthers cut the lead down to one and forced a Douglas timeout.

Powell then took the lead 24-23, before Douglas scored three straight and claimed a 26-24 first set win.

“Douglas has come a long way,” Spencer said.

Another strong start in the second set forced a Douglas timeout, but the Bearcats answered.

Douglas once again took the lead and grew it, taking a 16-12 lead and forcing a Powell timeout.

Several miscommunications allowed Douglas to maintain the lead until the Bearcats were up 23-18.

“We are young and inexperienced at the state level, our second year at state in a long time,” Spencer said. “That feeling and comfort level at the events center comes with being there and that came out with those younger girls especially on Friday. That communication and understanding how loud it is in there and how vocal you need to be able to make sure everyone knows what is going on — until you are there you don’t understand it.”

Powell then put on a rally to end the set, scoring seven straight points to complete the rally and tie the match 1-1.

The late rally allowed for Powell to gain momentum in the match, leading to a strong start in the third. That led to an early timeout by Douglas, which allowed for Powell to continue growing its advantage.

Douglas cut into the lead, getting it to as little as three, before Powell pushed ahead for good — earning a 25-16 set win after wearing down the Bearcats.

“I’ve told the girls, it’s one of our things we really believe in, is that we might get beat but we aren’t going to get beat because the other team is in better shape than we are,” Spencer said.

In the fourth, Powell built an early lead and appeared to be cruising towards a set win early up six.

Douglas found its second wind midway through the set, battling all the way back and taking an 18-17 lead.

The teams went back and forth, with Powell taking a 24-23 lead and forcing a Douglas timeout. 

Douglas answered with two straight, before Powell finished the match with three straight points and booked a spot in the state championship match.

“They are young, they are going to be tough,” Spencer said. “The future is bright for them (Douglas).”

Thorington led with 25 kills, Walsh led with 30 assists, Harvey led with 22 digs and 2.5 blocks while Richardson and Thorington tied for the team lead with three aces.

MOUNTAIN VIEW 3, POWELL 1

(25-20, 17-25, 25-15, 25-20)

The Saturday Championship brought a familiar face in an all-new environment for the Panthers, squaring off with the west’s No. 2 seed Mountain View (32-7-1) for the third time this season.

It was the first time Powell had made the title game since 2013.

In the previous two matchups this season the teams had each earned a win, with both matches going to five sets.

Powell had won the matchup the previous week, but the state championship brought an environment unfamiliar to the Panthers whereas the Buffalos were in their fourth consecutive championship match.

“That experience matters, their coach has been there a long time. It’s my coaching staff’s second year (at state) and first year in the championship,” Spencer said. “Maybe we did something wrong that didn’t jive well and all that experience does have an effect on it.”

That experience shined through early, with Mountain View jumping out to a 5-0 lead, and growing it to 14-8 midway through the set.

Powell pulled closer, but was unable to find a way closer than three until late in the set.

The rally brought the Panthers to within one point, down 20-19, before Mountain View scored five of the last six points to take the first set.

Settling in for the second set, the Panthers took control early, building a 10-5 lead and forcing a timeout from Mountain View.

That lead continued to hold throughout the set, with Powell maintaining the five point lead when Mountain View called its second timeout.

Powell grew the lead out further, finishing with a 25-17 win to tie the match 1-1.

All the momentum gained in the second set did not carry over to the third, with Mountain View jumping out to an early lead and continuing to grow it throughout.

Each bounce continued to go the Buffalos’ way and Mountain View finished with a convincing 25-15 win.

“It was definitely rolling their way a majority of the time,” Spencer said. “If the ball was rolling one way it was going to roll in their favor.”

Battling for a championship and battling to save a season, both teams came out firing in the fourth set with neither team gaining an advantage early.

Mountain View gained the edge midway through, leading 13-10 and forcing a Panther timeout.

Powell rallied to tie it at 14, before pulling ahead up 18-16 and forcing a Mountain View timeout.

The Buffalos scored four straight out of the break and forced another timeout from Powell.

Mountain View carried the momentum this time, pulling ahead and finishing with a 25-20 win.

“I believe everybody did the best they could with what they were given and gave it their all,” Spencer said. 

The victory secured the Buffalos their second straight title, and third in the last four years.

Thorington led with 15 kills, 20 digs and two aces, Walsh led with 22 assists and Kidd finished with 10 kills and 2.5 blocks to lead alongside Catelynn Floy who also had 2.5.

LOSING TALENT BUT GROWING

Powell will say goodbye to a number of contributors to the program this year, including Thorington, Walsh, Harvey, Kenzie Fields and Maci Borders who all saw playing time throughout the season.

“Super sad to see my seniors leave,” Spencer said. “Some of our juniors were worried after the game wondering how they will ever get there again … one of our seniors stepped up and said ‘we thought this last year and we’re here this year. We were in the state championship, you have to have faith and believe because it’s what you make of it.’ I thought that was a very mature statement from a senior that had just lost a state championship game.”

Thorington led the entire state with over 600 kills this season, an area the Panthers will need to replace in the future alongside Harvey who had the second most kills on the team.

Powell will also need to replace Walsh, who led the team in assists while Fields and Borders contributed in the service and blocking game.

“Some of the best teammates that you could ever ask for,” Spencer said. “We are going to miss them.”

Key returners from the starting lineup are Floy, Richardson and Kidd alongside Leah Graham who recently stepped into the starting lineup late in her freshman year.

“We have some young gals that have the potential to fill some of those shoes,” Spencer said. “There are some girls coming up that have those same attributes. The culture of the Panther volleyball gym is good and I think it’s going to continue keeping that culture and those expectations are there now.”

POWELL 3, TORRINGTON 1

(25-22, 20-25, 25-9, 25-9)

Total blocks then solo blocks in ()

Kills — Addy Thorington 28, Waycee Harvey 11, Saige Kidd 6, Catelynn Floy 3

Assists — Stevee Walsh 35, Catelynn Floy 5, Leah Graham 3, Waycee Harvey 1, Addy Thorington 1

Digs — Stevee Walsh 14, Waycee Harvey 14, Alexa Richardson 14, Addy Thorington 10, Catelynn Floy 7, Saige Kidd 3, Kodee Asay 2, Leah Graham 2, Kenzie Fields 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 3, Catelynn Floy 2.5, Addy Thorington 2, Waycee Harvey 1 (1), Stevee Walsh .5, Kodee Asay .5, Leah Graham .5

Aces — Addy Thorington 2

POWELL 3, DOUGLAS 1

(24-26, 25-23, 25-16, 27-25)

Kills — Addy Thorington 25, Waycee Harvey 12, Saige Kidd 9, Catelynn Floy 5, Kodee Asay 2, Stevee Walsh 1, Alexa Richardson 1, Leah Graham 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 30, Catelynn Floy 13, Waycee Harvey 3, Leah Graham 3, Addy Thorington 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Kodee Asay 1

Digs — Waycee Harvey 22, Addy Thorington 18, Alexa Richardson 17, Stevee Walsh 12, Catelynn Floy 8, Saige Kidd 3, Leah Graham 2, Kodee Asay 1, Kenzie Fields 1

Blocks — Waycee Harvey 2.5 (2), Catelynn Floy 2 (1), Kodee Asay 1, Leah Graham 1, Addy Thorington .5

Aces — Alexa Richardson 3, Addy Thorington 3, Stevee Walsh 1, Waycee Harvey 1

MOUNTAIN VIEW 3, POWELL 1

(25-20, 17-25, 25-15, 25-20)

Kills — Addy Thorington 15, Saige Kidd 10, Catelynn Floy 4, Waycee Harvey 3, Leah Graham 3, Stevee Walsh 2, Kodee Asay 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 22, Catelynn Floy 4, Kodee Asay 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Leah Graham 2, Alexa Richardson 1

Digs — Addy Thorington 20, Alexa Richardson 16, Stevee Walsh 13, Waycee Harvey 11, Catelynn Floy 7, Saige Kidd 2, Leah Graham 2, Kenzie Fields 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 2.5, Catelynn Floy 2.5 (1), Leah Graham 1.5, Addy Thorington 1.5, Waycee Harvey 1, Kodee Asay 1

Aces — Addy Thorington 2, Alexa Richardson 1