The Powell Panther volleyball team finished 4-1 against five Montana teams at the Wyoming/Montana Border Wars in Cody on Friday and Saturday.

POWELL 3, BILLINGS CENTRAL 1

The event started Friday afternoon with a matchup against Billings Central, where the Panthers (7-2) jumped out to a commanding lead early.

That lead came after a first set victory 25-18, and continued in the second set with a 25-21 victory.

Central got a set back in the third 25-16, before Powell closed out a tough fourth set 25-22.

“I believe this is the first time we have beaten Central at Border Wars for the first time in a long time, if ever I’m not sure,” coach Lesli Spencer said. “They are pretty solid but we felt good coming out.”

Powell was swept by Billings Central in last year’s tournament, in which the Panthers finished 2-2.

A balanced attack helped the Panthers in the match, with Waycee Harvey leading with eight kills, just ahead of Catelynn Floy and Addy Thorington who each had seven.

Alexa Richardson led the way with 15 digs just ahead of Thorington with 13, while Harvey also led the team with three aces.

HARDIN 3, POWELL 2

A slower start to the second match of the day on Friday saw the Panthers trail early, as Hardin took advantage of Powell in the first set 25-15.

“We did not step on the court ready to play that first set,” Spencer said.

Powell regrouped in the second and third set, creating separation late and earning 25-17 and 25-19 victories to take a 2-1 lead.

Another Powell slow start in the fourth set allowed Hardin to jump out to a comfortable lead, before finishing the set 25-17 and forcing a fifth set.

Unfortunately for Powell a third poor set followed, trailing 7-1 out the gates in the set and unable to find a way back in as Hardin won the fifth set 15-6.

“Hardin is a solid team, I do think that we took everything out of them in that five set match,” Spencer said. “It was a hard loss but still a hard fought battle … Hardin stepped on ready in the fifth set and we did not.”

Thorington led the way with 20 kills alongside Floy with 13 as the other Panther in double figures.

Stevee Walsh led with 24 assists just ahead of Floy with 19.

Richardson led with 21 digs just ahead of Thorington’s 20 as the Panthers had five in double figures for digs.

POWELL 3, GLENDIVE 1

Rounding out the evening on Friday with Glendive, the Panthers overcame a difficult final match of the day to earn another victory.

Powell finished the first set with a 25-17 victory before escaping the second set with a 26-24 win.

Glendive took the third set 25-19 before the Panthers closed out the night with a 25-21 victory.

Thorington was the only Panther in double figures with 12 kills, while Walsh and Floy split assists with 15 and 13 respectively.

Richardson led with 19 digs once again, while Saige Kidd led with three of the 12 aces for the Panthers.

POWELL 3, LAUREL 1

On Saturday morning the Panthers continued the strong play early, matching up with Laurel.

In the first set Powell pushed ahead late after the teams battled point for point, earning a 25-22 victory.

That late momentum carried into an early second set lead, before the injury bug bit the Panthers.

Kidd injured her ankle just seven points in, but the Panthers continued to hold the early lead up until 18-14.

That’s when Floy landed and injured her knee on a long point, and was forced out the rest of the set.

“That’s the first time I’ve had to have an exceptional substitution in my coaching career,” Spencer said. “We do practice man down in practice all the time, pulling random girls out just in case these situations arise so these girls aren’t totally in the dark about what to do and how things are going to roll.”

Laurel battled back and tied the match at 24, before a rotation error by Powell gave Laurel the lead and the final point gave Laurel the set 26-24.

In the third set, Floy was able to return and gave Powell a spark early.

The Panthers built a lead early and never looked back, pushing past Laurel for an emphatic 25-11 third set victory.

In the fourth Powell trailed early before taking a 7-6 lead and never looking back, finishing the match with a 25-17 victory.

Kidd did not return to action the rest of the weekend, but Floy returned to lead the Panthers with 14 digs in the match.

“Saige we will assess a bit more … I’ve been in contact with her and the swelling is not super bad, she’s a tough kid so she will be back as soon as she can,” Spencer said.

Thorington had a weekend high 26 kills, along with 2.5 blocks and five aces. Walsh led Powell with 20 assists along with three aces.

POWELL 3, LOCKWOOD 0

The final match of the weekend against Lockwood had the Panthers in a position to finish the event on a high and end with a 4-1 record.

Powell came out from the jump and soared past its final Montana opposition, winning in straight sets 25-16, 25-20 and 25-17.

“We’ve had two long weekends with a lot of sets and a lot of matches,” Spencer said. “It’s good to see them at the end of these days with some juice in their tanks and they aren’t completely dead. That means we are doing a good job on the conditioning side.”

That helped Wyoming secure the victory over Montana for the third year in a row 18-14, but Powell fell just short of being the individual champions as Cody finished the weekend unbeaten and did not lose a set.

RAWLINS INVITATIONAL

Powell now heads to Rawlins to take part in the “Sandy Jebens Invitational” on Friday and Saturday.

Pool play on Friday will have Powell taking on 3A East competition Newcastle (3-9) and WyoPreps No. 5-ranked Douglas (7-5) and another look at 3A Southwest opponent Lander (3-6). Match times are unknown as it is a rolling schedule after a noon start, both junior varsity and varsity play each team — Powell will play in the second, third and sixth time slots.

“Newcastle and Douglas are on the other side so this is the only chance we will get to see them before state,” Spencer said. “Coming out of the pool hopefully we will be able to see some of the other teams like Lyman, Mountain View or Pinedale again like the teams on the other side before conference duals.”

All 16 teams from 3A will be in attendance at the event, with the top two teams from each of the four pools advancing to the gold bracket on Saturday and the bottom two teams from each bracket advancing to the silver bracket.

This will be the final tournament weekend for the Panthers before returning home to open conference play next Friday against Thermopolis.

POWELL 3, BILLINGS CENTRAL 1

Total blocks then solo blocks in ()

Kills — Waycee Harvey 8, Catelynn Floy 7, Addy Thorington 7, Saige Kidd 5, Stevee Walsh 3, Haylee Akin 1, Maci Borders 1, Kodee Asay 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 12, Catelynn Floy 10, Addy Thorington 3, Saige Kidd 2, Waycee Harvey 1, Haylee Akin 1

Digs — Alexa Richardson 15, Addy Thorington 13, Waycee Harvey 9, Catelynn Floy 8, Saige Kidd 3, Stevee Walsh 2, Haylee Akin 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1, Waycee Harvey .5, Maci Borders .5, Kodee Asay .5, Addy Thorington .5

Aces — Waycee Harvey 3, Alexa Richardson 3, Stevee Walsh 2, Catelynn Floy 2, Addy Thorington 1

HARDIN 3, POWELL 2

Kills — Addy Thorington 20, Catelynn Floy 13, Saige Kidd 8, Waycee Harvey 7, Kodee Asay 2, Alexa Richardson 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 24, Catelynn Floy 19, Saige Kidd 4, Waycee Harvey 1, Kodee Asay 1

Digs — Alexa Richardson 21, Addy Thorington 20, Catelynn Floy 14, Waycee Harvey 12, Stevee Walsh 10, Saige Kidd 5, Kodee Asay 1

Blocks — Waycee Harvey 1.5 (1), Addy Thorington 1.5 (1), Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy .5, Kodee Asay .5

Aces — Addy Thorington 4, Wacyee Harvey 2, Alexa Richardson 2

POWELL 3, GLENDIVE 1

Kills — Addy Thorington 12, Saige Kidd 8, Waycee Harvey 7, Catelynn Floy 7, Stevee Walsh 4, Kodee Asay 2, Haylee Akin 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 15, Catelynn Floy 13, Waycee Harvey 2, Alexa Richardson 2, Kodee Asay 2, Saige Kidd 1, Addy Thorington 1

Digs — Alexa Richardson 19, Addy Thorington 15, Waycee Harvey 13, Catelynn Floy 10, Saige Kidd 7, Kodee Asay 5, Stevee Walsh 4, Haylee Akin 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 1.5, Catelynn Floy .5, Kodee Asay .5, Addy Thorington .5

Aces — Saige Kidd 3, Stevee Walsh 2, Alexa Richardson 2, Catelynn Floy 2, Addy Thorington 2, Kenzie Fields 1

POWELL 3, LAUREL 1

Kills — Addy Thorington 26, Waycee Harvey 8, Catelynn Floy 6, Haylee Akin 1, Kodee Asay 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 20, Catelynn Floy 8, Waycee Harvey 4, Addy Thorington 1

Digs — Catelynn Floy 14, Addy Thorington 13, Waycee Harvey 10, Alexa Richardson 9, Stevee Walsh 7, Saige Kidd 1, Kodee Asay 1

Blocks —  Addy Thorington 2.5 (1), Haylee Akin 2, Maci Borders 1.5, Catelynn Floy 1.5, Waycee Harvey 1, Saige Kidd 1, Kodee Asay .5

Aces — Addy Thorington 5, Stevee Walsh 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Saige Kidd 2, Catelynn Floy 2

POWELL 3, LOCKWOOD 0

Kills — Addy Thorington 20, Catelynn Floy 5, Waycee Harvey 4, Kodee Asay 3, Maci Borders 2, Stevee Walsh 1, Haylee Akin 1

Assists — Stevee Walsh 17, Catelynn Floy 11, Maci Borders 2, Waycee Harvey 1, Alexa Richardson 1

Digs — Addy Thorington 7, Waycee Harvey 5, Alexa Richardson 5, Catelynn Floy 4, Stevee Walsh 2

Blocks — Addy Thorington 2.5 (1), Kodee Asay 2 (1), Waycee Harvey 1.5 (1), Maci Borders 1.5, Catelynn Floy 1.5, Haylee Akin 1

Aces — Kenzie Fields 3, Alexa Richardson 1, Catelynn Floy 1, Addy Thorington 1