A stellar senior class helped propel the Powell Panther volleyball team to another year of successes. Powell ended up second at the regional tournament and rebounded to finish third at the state tournament after a disappointing semifinal loss the night prior.

TAKING THE REINS

This year’s Panthers have been waiting for their chance to make an impact on the program, some featured in previous years, while some made a big leap this season to join the rotation, whether it was in the back or at the net.

“It felt good because it was our turn,” senior Kodee Asay said. “It was our time to show them we didn’t need them, and that we were our own type of team. That we were our own people, and we all had a talent and the hunger to win everything. Even with all the losses together, it all just made us grow so much, and we’ve all grown up together.”

Needing to replace so much outgoing production from the previous year’s seniors, the Panthers took on different roles early on, such as Peyton Borcher. Borcher started as a setter but eventually moved into the back row to serve as a defensive specialist to end the season, forming a special bond with fellow senior Alexa Richardson who has been the team’s libero for three seasons.

“I started off as a setter and that was a lot of pressure to kind of lead my team in that setting, but kind of becoming a defensive specialist throughout the season was more my jam, and I really liked it,” Borcher said. “You have to have a really close relationship back there. Alexa, I call her my comfort because I can just look at her and just immediately, I know it’s going to be OK. Even if we’re in a point deficit, it has to be pretty tight back there.”

Richardson has been a familiar face of that back row, serving in that role throughout her three seasons of varsity experience.

“It feels really good to feel like I had that special role on the team,” Richardson said. “I’m so glad that my teammates are willing to allow me to be in that position and that they can depend on me.”

Taking on that larger role as leaders of the program was key to the success of the Panthers this season, with Saige Kidd noting the importance of the transition, but also that it was easy after some of the Panthers had experience last season as juniors.

“It was very important, but I think it was also somewhat easy,” Kidd said. “I think it came easy to a lot of us, just because last year on varsity we really stepped up to play with the seniors we had last year. I think just coming up we really accepted that role and brought to it what we could.”

TEAM NEWCOMER

Just before the season the Panthers got a welcomed surprise, when Addison Holcomb made the move from Oregon to Powell for her senior season.

She immediately jumped into summer activities with the Panthers, noting that this was the best season of her career as the team welcomed her instantly to Powell.

“This season has been the best season I’ve ever had,” Holcomb said. “I’m just so thankful for that. They were all so welcoming when I came, and they just made the move so much easier.”

MENTAL SHIFT

Making that shift mentally to become the leaders of the team, the Panthers made a strong transition early knowing they had big shoes to fill in the program.

“This year, we knew that we had to step up and kind of fill some shoes from last year, but I think that we did that pretty well, and everyone was kind of ready to play,” Richardson said.

Outside of that, the Panthers saw a new head coach join the program, as coach Anna Flitner began to stress the importance of mental health with the team throughout the year and help the team continue to grow week in and week out.

“Anna, she was amazing. She really encouraged mental health for us, which I think is a huge part of volleyball — it’s as mental as it is physical,” Borcher said.

That mental shift helped the Panthers end strong, finishing the year with less than 10 losses for a second consecutive season, and ending with a win this year after finishing last year with a loss in the championship game.

“Last year when we lost I felt like that feeling was worse, and I’d rather be where we are. Third place is nothing to hang our heads about. I’m so proud of everyone,” Floy said. “I’m so thankful for Anna and Kelsey [Marchant]. They put so much into us and I couldn’t have done it without them. This team is something else, I’m so happy we ended this way.”

BIG SISTERS

Finishing out their senior season the Panthers had two older sisters taking on a leadership role, as Kidd and Floy each had younger sisters, Kindyle Floy and Autumn Kidd, making their way into the program as freshmen, with Autumn getting varsity experience at different times including the state tournament.

“It was awesome, I really, really loved it,” Saige Kidd said. “It was just awesome to see her grow and be able to experience this year. We’re so close, and it was a really good way to end it.”

Meanwhile Kindyle was unable to make it on the court for the Panthers beyond the junior varsity level this season, but joined the Panthers at the state tournament as a manager which Catelynn said made the experience that much better.

“Just being with her and seeing her every day, it’s different when she’s down here experiencing it, than in the crowd, and it made me feel so close [with her],” Floy said. 

ENDING WITH A WIN

That final win over Wheatland was a relief for the Panthers as they played one of their best matches of the state tournament, capping off a 3-1 weekend with a sweep of the Bulldogs.

“It was great to end on the high, we played the way that I know we can, and it was just so much fun to end it off on a good note,” Holcomb said.

Throughout the season the Panthers continued to stress the importance of being a family — helping each other reach for goals including finishing with another trophy at the state tournament.

“We all wanted the best for each other. We all knew each other’s potential, and growing up together we all knew that we would hit that top notch all together,” Asay said. “So just doing that all as a family, it really was awesome this season.”