A strong campaign that saw a large improvement by season’s end led the Powell Middle School eighth grade volleyball team to a solid record and a good placement in the conference tournament.

“Our eighth grade volleyball team wrapped up the season with a strong showing, finishing with a solid record and placing competitively within our conference,” coach Charli Fluty said. “While wins were certainly exciting, what stood out even more was how consistently this group improved throughout the season and how well they represented our program and our school.”

Fluty said this group in particular had a good volleyball IQ by season’s end, allowing them to grow in confidence while also having strong teamwork.

“As the season progressed, the players became more confident reading the court, anticipating plays and making smart in-game adjustments,” Fluty said. “Their teamwork was another standout strength. This group constantly supported each other, celebrated big and small successes and maintained a positive attitude.”

While the team continued to gain confidence throughout, Fluty felt many of the team’s weaknesses came simply through inexperience.

“Consistency with serve-receive, transitions and communication were areas we had to work on early, but even those areas improved significantly by the end,” Fluty said.

Despite struggling in those areas, the Cubs made significant progress by season’s end.

“Skills such as passing and attacking became more refined, and players began to understand not just how to do things, but why they were doing them,” Fluty said. “Their confidence grew with every match and their ability to adjust and problem solve on the fly showed real maturity.”

She said there were plenty of athletes who stood out for their leadership, consistency or playmaking, while a number of players also showed “remarkable improvement” from the start of the season until the end.

“Whether it was mastering a new position, becoming more aggressive at the net or gaining confidence in their serving game — everyone stood out in their own way,” Fluty said. “This group had a mix of natural talent and steady workers, and both types made our season successful.”

She said that throughout the season the team had a number of shared moments that led to the best memories for the year.

“Examples include big rallies that swung momentum, practices where everything clicked, games where every player stepped up and the laughter and energy that this group brought daily,” Fluty said. “Watching them celebrate each other’s successes, fight through challenges and grow closer as a team was truly special.”

While they were unable to claim a conference title this season, Fluty feels this group has a high ceiling in the future for the Panthers as they continue to grow heading into high school next season.

“I am genuinely excited to watch this group compete at the high school level. They have the foundation, volleyball IQ, teamwork and effort to be an impactful class at Powell High School,” Fluty said. “To take the next step, they will need to continue improving their serve-receive, communication and overall consistency. As they get stronger and more confident, these areas will naturally come together … This was a memorable group with so much potential, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in high school volleyball.”