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Postseason positioning was already locked in for the Powell Panther volleyball team heading into Friday night, but the Panthers were looking to finish 3A Northwest quadrant play without losing a set. …
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Postseason positioning was already locked in for the Powell Panther volleyball team heading into Friday night, but the Panthers were looking to finish 3A Northwest quadrant play without losing a set. Powell did just that, sweeping the Lovell Bulldogs in the final home game of the season.
POWELL 3, LOVELL 0
(25-15, 25-16, 25-14)
Lovell (12-16-1 overall, 1-5 3A Northwest) came out with a purpose early, needing a victory over Powell (22-7 overall, 6-0 3A Northwest) to guarantee the third position at regionals without tiebreakers ahead of Thermopolis.
That came in the form of a 5-3 lead, before Powell took control of the set scoring six straight.
“It was a hard game for us to get up for,” coach Lesli Spencer said.
Powell continued to hold the lead and grew it to 17-11 before a timeout from Lovell.
A strong finish allowed the Panthers to finish out the win 25-15 win.
In the second set, Powell came out with a stronger push at the start — growing a lead to 9-3.
Lovell battled back before the set was eventually tied at 12.
Powell regained its footing and made it 18-14 before a timeout from the Bulldogs.
That allowed for the Panthers to push and take the second set 25-16 and a 2-0 set lead.
Lovell scored the first two points in the third set, before Powell stormed past and held an 8-3 lead before an early Bulldog timeout.
The lead continued to hold between three and four points, before Powell scored 10 straight to take total control of the set to make it a 24-11 scoreline.
“We need to push when you’re expected to win and finish it in three, not dink around and give the other team hope,” Spencer said. “Volleyball is a momentum sport so don’t open that door.”
Lovell scored a few points, but Powell finished with a 25-14 win to complete the sweep.
That marked the second year in a row the Panthers have finished the 3A Northwest conference season undefeated, with the last set the Panthers lost coming in the opening game last season to Worland.
Addy Thorington led with 19 kills, Stevee Walsh had 21 assists, Saige Kidd and Catelynn Floy tied with two blocks each while Alexa Richardson led with 11 digs and five aces.
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND
Postseason play is upon the top-seeded Panthers, who head to Lander this weekend for the 3A West Regional tournament.
That will begin against the No. 4 seed from the 3A Southwest, the host Lander Tigers (10-18 overall, 1-5 3A Southwest).
This will be the fourth matchup of the season between the two teams, with Powell holding a 3-0 lead.
“We are going to focus a whole bunch on our serve-receive and passing. If we can get our serve-receive and passing to our setters it will be really hard to beat us,” Spencer said.
If Powell wins, it will advance to the semifinal against the winner of No. 2 seeded Lyman (23-10 overall, 3-3 3A Southwest) and the No. 3 seeded Bulldogs.
“What’s huge for us every game is we have to have our block up,” Spencer said. “I want to get our block up strong quickly. Our block is going to be huge.”
If Powell loses, it will drop to the consolation bracket, facing the loser of Lyman and Lovell.
The Panthers lost a five set battle to Lyman in Powell at the conference duals while owning a 2-0 record against the Bulldogs.
Powell needs two wins to advance to the state tournament in Casper next weekend.
POWELL 3, LOVELL 0
(25-15, 25-16, 25-14)
Total blocks then solo blocks in ()
Kills — Addy Thorington 19, Catelynn Floy 7, Saige Kidd 4, Waycee Harvey 2, Kodee Asay 1, Leah Graham 1
Assists — Stevee Walsh 21, Catelynn Floy 6, Leah Graham 2, Haylee Akin 1
Digs — Alexa Richardson 11, Waycee Harvey 9, Addy Thorington 9, Stevee Walsh 6, Kenzie Fields 2, Haylee Akin 1, Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1, Leah Graham 1
Blocks — Saige Kidd 2, Catelynn Floy 2, Addy Thorington 1, Haylee Akin .5, Kodee Asay .5
Aces — Alexa Richardson 5, Waycee Harvey 3, Saige Kidd 2, Stevee Walsh 1, Kenzie Fields 1
3A WEST FIRST ROUND MATCHES
No. 4 SW Lander vs. No. 1 NW Powell
No. 3 NW Lovell vs. No. 2 SW Lyman
No. 4 NW Thermopolis vs. No. 1 SW Mountain View
No. 3 SW Pinedale vs. No. 2 NW Worland
