Making its first appearance at the state tournament since 2018 did not intimidate the Powell Panther volleyball team, which advanced to the semifinals after sweeping Douglas, before losing to eventual champion Mountain View 3-1 and then Wheatland 3-1 in the consolation semifinal.

POWELL 3, DOUGLAS 0

Starting out the tournament on Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, the west No. 3 seed Panthers (23-11-1) went into a matchup with east No. 2 seed Douglas (23-16) looking for revenge for an earlier season loss to the Bearcats. 

Powell came out firing early, jumping to a 5-0 lead and forcing an early timeout from Douglas.

“I was impressed they were not intimidated by the events center walking in there,” coach Lesli Spencer said. “They stepped on the court ready to play and took it in stride.”

The Bearcats battled back to tie the game 8-8, and pushed further to take a 13-9 lead.

The match again was tied at 16, before Powell took a 19-16 lead.

Douglas again answered, and took the lead 22-19 to force a Powell timeout.

Needing a comeback, Powell scored six of the next seven points and took the first set 25-23.

Powell carried that momentum in the second set and quickly took a 2-0 lead after a 25-16 win.

Douglas did not go away in the third set despite Powell leaping out to a 10-4 lead and forcing a timeout.

The two teams battled to a 15-13 Powell lead, before the Panthers created enough separation at 18-13 to hold on for a 3-0 win.

“They played strong, hard and consistent but did not have our best game,” Spencer said.

That 25-18 victory for Powell in the third set meant that the Panthers advanced to their first state semifinal since 2014.

MOUNTAIN VIEW 3, POWELL 1

Going into Friday, Powell knew it would take everything it had alongside some mistakes from Mountain View (35-4-1) if the Panthers were going to upset the No. 1 seed from their conference.

Early on Powell appeared to be handling the pressure, trailing 9-7 early on to the Buffalos.

A small run pushed the lead out to 15-9 and forced a Powell timeout.

Out of the timeout the Panthers battled back to trail again by only two at 19-17 before Mountain View finished off the set 25-18.

In the second set the Buffalos applied pressure early through a strong service game, pushing the lead out to 11-4 before a timeout by Powell.

The Panthers quickly answered, tightening the set to 16-14 before a Mountain View timeout.

Powell took the lead at 19-18, before another late run by Mountain View put the set away 25-22 to give the Buffalos a 2-0 lead.

Early on in the third, Powell took a small lead at 8-6 and clung onto it for a majority of the set until Mountain View took a 21-19 lead and forced a Panther timeout.

Powell battled point for point, and walked away with a 26-24 third set win to extend the match.

Winning that set meant Powell was only one of four 3A teams that won a set from Mountain View this season — joining Lyman, Pinedale and Buffalo.

After winning that set the Buffalos came out focused in the fourth, jumping out quickly to a 7-2 lead and pushing that out to 17-9 before a Powell timeout.

A late comeback by Powell dropped the lead down to 21-16, before the Buffalos finished the match 25-17 to advance to the state championship.

“I was very happy with how they played,” Spencer said. “They were a little discouraged, but we visited after the match and us three coaches congratulated them on how hard they battled with Mountain View.”

Mountain View went on to win a thrilling championship match 3-2 over Lyman (33-6-1).

WHEATLAND 3, POWELL 1

Regrouping on Saturday after dropping down to the consolation bracket, the Panthers tried to advance to the third place game against east No. 1 seed Wheatland (28-9).

Powell came out and started its rebound from Friday in the first set, building an early 10-8 lead.

The Panthers held off any late Bulldog charges and appeared to be back on track with a 25-19 first set win.

Wheatland came out in the second set and took an early 11-9 lead, and pushed that out to 18-14 before a Powell timeout.

The Panthers charged back late, tying the match at 18 and 21 before a late surge from Wheatland tied the match 1-1 with a 25-22 win.

The third set again was a battle, with both teams holding leads throughout.

Wheatland took a late lead 19-17 and held off a late Powell surge to again take a 25-22 set victory and a 2-1 lead.

“I don’t think our block was as strong,” Spencer said. “Our intensity level decreased just a touch, and we didn’t have the state experience to overcome that. They still battled with them and I am proud of them for that.”

Powell ran out of steam heading into the fourth set, and Wheatland took advantage immediately.

A 15-8 lead forced a Panther timeout, but the Bulldogs carried that early momentum and cruised to a 25-13 fourth set victory to end Powell’s season.

Wheatland went on to sweep Worland (16-20-1) in the third place match.

SEASON RECAP

It was an improved season for the Panthers, as they finished unbeaten in northwest quadrant play and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in four years.

“I wanted them to play their best every time they stepped on the floor, and continue to work hard in practice every day,” Spencer said.

Powell loses five seniors in Mikayla Graham, Gretel Opps, Sydney Spomer, Anna Bartholomew and Gracie Trotter who all played throughout the season.

“There will be a lot of changes heading into the offseason,” Spencer said. “The younger girls that were on the bench and with us will definitely have key roles heading into next year.”

Powell will return six players who played this season, in the hopes of continuing to grow the program and return to the state tournament next year — chasing a title the Panthers have not won since 2013.