Last week was a productive one for the Powell High School volleyball team, who began the week with a 3-0 road win over Lovell on Tuesday, and ended it with a hard-fought home loss to cross-county rival Cody Thursday.

“We really needed that win,” said PHS head coach Tasha Miller of the win against Lovell. “I think the girls came out with confidence that night and kept it throughout the match.”

As for the bout with Cody, “it took awhile to calm the nerves from playing in front of a home crowd,” Miller said. “Once they calmed down and started playing their game I thought maybe we would take the third set, but we came alive a little too late.”

On the road at Lovell Tuesday, the Lady Panthers controlled the action throughout, winning 25-13, 26-24, 25-21. It was the team’s sixth win on the season and Miller praised the teamwork of her players at the net. Sabrina Shoopman and Gabby Harshman led in kills with seven each, followed by Kady Wells with five.

“Sabrina Shoopman had a great game,” Miller said. “She was really connecting with her hitting and putting the ball away. She had some really smart net plays that helped keep the momentum in our favor, which is always what we need.”

Against the 4A Cody Fillies, who are 14-3 on the season, the Lady Panthers showed improvement in each of the first two sets, losing 25-16 and 25-18. Powell gave its rivals a scare in the third set, playing its best volleyball of the night before falling 25-23 to end the match.

“I love that through every set, no matter the points, they are working so hard to dig up every ball,” Miller said. “They chase after everything and don’t give up on the play.”

Miller added that the team is also improving in its communication on the court — the hard work in that aspect of the game is starting to show dividends.

“The girls really are communicating well; it’s taken a lot of work to get there but I am so impressed with how much they’ve been improving,” she said. “Paije Johnson had a good night. When she connects with the ball on the hit, it’s so impressive and such an intensity builder on the court.”

Johnson led the night with six kills, followed by Rose Graft with five.

For the week, Johnson and Harshman led in kills with 10 apiece, followed by seven each from Shoopman, Graft and Mattie Larsen.

Libero Michele Wagner led in digs with 28; Shoopman added 22 and Wells chipped in 20. Wagner also led in aces with four, while Gabi Metzler, Harshman and Graft had three aces each.

Metzler led in assists with 20, followed by 12 from Madi Fields and eight by Larsen.

The Lady Panthers are on the road to Red Lodge today (Tuesday), and will head to Buffalo Saturday to play Sundance.

“We still need to work on our mental game and our quick game,” Miller said. “We’re improving every week, but we still have a ways to go.”