Lady Bulldogs sweep Powell to close regular season strong

The Lovell High School volleyball teams wrapped up their regular season on a high note last Thursday evening in Powell, delivering a full program sweep over the Panthers.

The night started with the freshman team securing a victory in their final match of the year. Their energy set the tone for the evening, and the JV squad followed suit, defeating Powell in straight sets.

That same momentum carried right into the varsity matchup. The Lady Bulldogs have been working hard this season on “finishing,” and Thursday night’s contest was a perfect chance to show that growth as they won the match 25-15, 25-17, 25-23.

“The girls were able to turn to the right mindset and finish at set point in the third set to discover a win in three straight sets — a sweep of Powell on Powell’s home court,” head coach Tera Kostelecky noted.

The win was a confidence booster as the Bulldogs head into the 3A West Regional Tournament in Pinedale this week.

“We needed this momentum but also the belief that we can do this,” Coach Kostelecky said.

Lovell’s serving percentage jumped to an impressive 94% Thursday, a significant improvement after spending much of the season in the high 80s.

“The girls know they need to step up and keep climbing to get where they want to go,” Kostelecky said. “I truly believe this is the team that is going to do it. I’m so excited for them.”

As the regular season concludes, there’s a bittersweet feeling among the younger squads who have finished their schedules.

“It seems like we just started,” Kostelecky reflected. “We’ve had so much fun on the court this season.”

Freshman Gracie Angell shared her thoughts on the season, saying, “There were a lot of ups and downs, but we got through it as a team. It was fun, and I really liked it.”

From the freshmen to the varsity level, the Lady Bulldogs have shown growth, grit and unity all season long, Kostelecky said. With the community’s excitement building and “volleyball in the air” in Lovell, the team is ready to take on the postseason with confidence and heart, she said.

Going in as the third seed, Lovell will open the regional tournament against sixth seed Worland Friday at 3:15 p.m. If they win, the Bulldogs will meet the winner of the Mountain View-Lander match Friday at 6:45 p.m. An upset loss to Worland would drop the Lovell netters to a 10:45 a.m. match Saturday against the Lander-Mountain View loser.