Continuing into the final week of the regular season the Powell Panther volleyball team is on a roll, having won eight straight matches. The Panthers added a conference sweep against Worland on the road Thursday and a 3-1 home win against Buffalo on Saturday.

POWELL 3, WORLAND 0

(25-19, 25-17, 25-10)

Heading to Worlad on Thursday, the Panthers (23-5-1 overall, 8-1 3A West) matched up with the Warriors (11-16 overall 3-6 3A West) for a conference contest.

Powell came out strong and held an 11-7 lead before forcing a timeout by Worland.

The Panthers pulled further ahead out of the timeout, making it 19-12 before finishing the set with a 25-12 win.

Worland came out stronger in the second set, holding a lead early before the Panthers battled back to take a 15-14 lead.

Powell pulled ahead from that point, outscoring Worland 10-3 to take a 2-0 set lead after a 25-17 win.

The late run turned into momentum in the third set for the Panthers, who quickly jumped out to a 13-5 lead and continued pushing the lead out to as far as 23-7.

Powell finished the match with a 25-10 win and completed the sweep of Worland.

“It was fun to see them really come together,” coach Anna Flitner said. “We had a morning practice earlier last week where all we did was team culture and mental work for an hour in the morning, and we try to spend a little bit of time on it every day. I felt like it really came together in our game against Worland. That was fun to see, they were all just kind of clicking together. That was the first time in a little while that I’ve really been like ‘oh, this is the team that we see in practice every day.’”

Catelynn Floy led with 18 kills, while Saige Kidd added 14 along with three blocks to lead the Panthers.

Leah Graham led with 39 assists and tied with Alexa Richardson and Addison Holcomb for the team lead in digs with seven each.

Richardson and Holcomb tied for the team lead with four aces each.

POWELL 3, BUFFALO 1

(25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 25-12)

Returning home on Saturday the Panthers had a nonconference matchup with the Bison (14-14 overall, 3-1 3A Northeast).

Powell came out strong and won the first two sets by an identical 25-21 scoreline, before the visitors got a third set win 25-14.

The Panthers did not let the Bison capture their momentum, cruising to a 25-12 win in the fourth set to finish the 3-1 victory.

Holcomb led with 21 kills while Floy added 13 as the other Panther in double digits.

Graham led with 41 assists, while Holcomb led with 16 digs just ahead of Richardson with 14 and Graham with 12.

The Panthers only mustered two blocks on the day, with Kodee Asay leading with one.

“When we get into those ruts when our defense isn’t on, like with our blocking, then we are not able to get solid passes and our hitting is off,” Flitner said, adding “It makes it hard when one part of our game is not clicking and the rest of it seems to follow. So we need to try and figure out how we can make minor adjustments in those moments.”

Holcomb led with six aces.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME

Powell will stay at home for its final regular season home game, taking on the rival Cody Fillies (20-6 overall, 8-0 3A West) at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday), with the Fillies being the last team to defeat the Panthers on Sept. 26.

“I’m excited to play Cody a second time,” Flitner said. “I felt like [last time] there were lots of nerves. It was more towards the beginning of the season. They’re a super solid team, probably one of the best, if not the best that we’ve played all year. So having a chance to play them towards the end of the season at home, I think it will be a good indicator of how we’re matched up against them.”

The Panthers will head to Lovell on Thursday to wrap up the regular season before Powell hosts the 3A West Regional Tournament starting Nov. 1.

POWELL 3, WORLAND 0

(25-19, 25-17, 25-10)

Total blocks then solo blocks in ()

Kills — Catelynn Floy 18, Saige Kidd 14, Addison Holcomb 5, Kodee Asay 4, Kaedenze Carter 2, Leah Graham 1

Assists — Leah Graham 39, Addison Holcomb 2

Digs — Alexa Richardson 7, Leah Graham 7, Addison Holcomb 7, Catelynn Floy 5, Peyton Borcher 2, Saige Kidd 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 3 (1), Kodee Asay 2 (1), Addison Holcomb 2, Kaedenze Carter 1, Catelynn Floy .5

Aces — Alexa Richardson 4, Addison Holcomb 4, Saige Kidd 2

POWELL 3, BUFFALO 1

(25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 25-12)

Kills — Addison Holcomb 21, Catelynn Floy 13, Saige Kidd 6, Kodee Asay 6, Leah Graham 3, Kaedenze Carter 2, Ava Teten 1

Assists — Leah Graham 41, Addison Holcomb 3, Peyton Borcher 1, Kaedenze Carter 1, Catelynn Floy 1, Ava Teten 1

Digs — Addison Holcomb 16, Alexa Richardson 14, Leah Graham 12, Catelynn Floy 7, Peyton Borcher 4, Saige Kidd 3, Kodee Asay 2, Ava Teten 1

Blocks — Kodee Asay 1, Saige Kidd .5, Kaedenze Carter .5

Aces — Addison Holcomb 6, Catelynn Floy 2, Leah Graham 2, Alexa Richardson 1