Powell volleyball starts well in Riverton

Posted 8/30/16

Playing five matches over two days kept the team busy — as well as successful — as a 4-1 record for the weekend would indicate.

“It was a great first weekend, with the seniors being phenomenal leaders,” head coach Randi Bonander said. …

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Powell volleyball starts well in Riverton

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After two weeks of practice in the Powell gym, the Lady Panthers of the volleyball court were anxious to go against some live competition — something a weekend trip to the six-team Riverton Invitational satisfied, and then some.

Playing five matches over two days kept the team busy — as well as successful — as a 4-1 record for the weekend would indicate.

“It was a great first weekend, with the seniors being phenomenal leaders,” head coach Randi Bonander said. “The juniors and sophomores had fantastic combined efforts.”

Friday’s first two matches posed little challenge in 2-0 wins over Lander and Pinedale.

In the first match, the Lady Tigers barely managed to get into double figures in a 21-10 loss, before Powell held them to single digits in the 21-9 cincher.

Similarly against the Lady Wranglers, the Panthers pounced early and often and won 21-6 in the opener and 21-10 to complete the two-set sweep.

Facing Worland, however, saw the level of competition rise dramatically, as the Warriors would go undefeated for the weekend.

Worland came out strong and pulled away for a 21-14 win in the opener, but Powell battled back in a very evenly-matched second game.

The Panthers held on for a 21-19 win, forcing a tie-breaking third set, which would go the Warriors way by a 15-10 score.

The team then had the night to rest before coming back Saturday and getting two, three-set wins.

“The Saturday games were stronger teams than the first two games Friday,” Bonander said. “It allowed us the opportunity to grow from mistakes and improve all aspects of our game. The girls played well and we found out different things that we need to hone in on this next week.”

First up was 3A West, North Quadrant foe Riverton and, though it didn’t count as a conference contest, Powell took a solid, 21-16 win.

The second game, however, was very lopsided in the opposite direction with the Wolverines getting an easy 21-7 win.

The Panthers bounced back though, taking the tie-breaker by a 15-12 score.

The pattern repeated itself against Jackson Hole, with a big second-set Broncs win sandwiched by Powell victories.

A close first game against 4A Jackson saw the Panthers eke out a 21-20 win, with a similar letdown in the second set as in the Riverton match, seeing the Broncs roll to a 21-13 final.

But again, Powell rebounded and won 15-12 in the extra set to finish the weekend in fine fashion.

“I was extremely happy with the communication, serving and net play,” Bonander said. “We will work on hitting and blocking coverage, as well as changing up our hitting options. No one individual stood out; they all had strong moments and, for the most part, they were overlapping, which helps our confidence and morale.”

Next up is another weekend tournament, the annual “Border Wars” tournament in Cody running Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2 and 3, with teams from Wyoming facing off against a host of schools from Montana.

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