Thrilling matches ended the season for a continually improving Powell Middle School seventh grade volleyball team, resulting in a Yellowstone Conference Tournament crown after entering as the No. 4 seed.

The Cubs opened the season with a three-set sweep over Worland 25-19, 25-12 and 16-14, while the ‘B’ team finished with a 2-1 win with sets of 25-13, 18-25 and 15-12.

Gaige Tharp led the ‘A’ team with 22 points including 16 aces while Claire Warner led the ‘B’ team with 21 points including 11 aces.

Powell then earned another set of wins over Lander, as the ‘A’ team earned a three set sweep of 25-18, 25-16 and 15-11 while the ‘B’ team won 19-25, 25-14 and 15-4.

Tenley Shorb led with seven aces to finish with 13 points for the ‘A’ team while McKenna Legerski led the ‘B’ team with four kills.

The Cubs’ first loss of the season came against Riverton, as the ‘A’ team fell in three sets with scores of 25-12, 25-15, 15-12 and the ‘B’ team fell in a 2-1 match 25-19, 23-25, 15-9.

Powell got back on track with a win over Laurel, as the ‘A’ team earned a 25-13, 25-10 win while the ‘B’ team fell 25-13, 25-7.

The Cubs then split their next matchup against Lovell, as the ‘A’ team lost to Lovell 25-11, 21-25 and 17-15 while the ‘B’ team recorded a 2-1 win at 25-16, 25-23 and 8-15.

Powell then rebounded with another win over Worland, as the ‘A’ team won 25-11, 25-12, 15-9 while the ‘B’ team won 25-13, 25-19, 15-17.

In another tough match the Cub ‘A’ team fell to Cody 25-18, 25-12 and 17-15 while the ‘B’ team picked up the win 25-27, 25-18 and 15-6.

In another match against Lovell the Cubs came up just short again, falling in three sets 25-21, 22-25, 15-13 while the ‘B’ team swept Lovell with set scores of 25-20, 25-21, 15-10.

Powell had a strong showing against Rocky Mountain, as the Cub ‘A’ team rolled to a sweep 25-16, 25-9, 15-11, while the ‘B’ team fell 16-25, 25-16, 15-11.

“This is a very talented group who have played some volleyball before the seventh grade season,” coach Jodee Metzler said. “This shows as we are able to compete with other schools who have a strong club team.”

The Cubs once again had a tough matchup against Cody, losing by set scores of 18-25, 25-19, 15-5 while the ‘B’ team pulled out the sweep 26-24, 25-15, 17-15.

Ending the regular season the ‘A’ team defeated Laurel via a sweep 25-16, 25-14, 15-4 while the ‘B’ team fell 25-15, 14-25, 15-4.

Heading into the tournament as the four seed the Cubs cruised past Worland once again, defeating the Braves 25-21, 25-19, 15-10.

The Cubs came up against the No. 1 seed in Cody for the semifinals, losing the first set 25-18 before rallying to win the second and third sets 25-16 and 15-9.

The championship game featured the Cubs against Lovell, as Powell took the first set narrowly 27-25.

Lovell responded and won 25-20 before another close third set saw the Cubs earn the 16-14 win to claim the conference title.

Throughout the season the Cubs had a number of contributors on the ‘A’ team who helped lead to the crown.

“These girls beat both Cody and Lovell who they lost to twice during the season,” Metzler said. “They showed up, worked together and played hard.”