HHS spikers head to Browning for opener

Facing the rival Browning Indians right out of the gate should mean a win for the Havre High volleyball team this weekend. But the Central A Blue Ponies are just excited to get the season started.

The Ponies don’t return too many varsity players this season, but they do return quite a bit of volleyball talent. And the Ponies will get their first test Saturday, as they travel to Browning to face the conference rival Indians in the season opener for both squads.

Last season, HHS swept the Indians in both meetings. The first time around the Ponies won by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-23, and the second time around, the Ponies won by scores of 25-9, 25-23 and 25-20. The Indians struggle to earn wins every season, but the Indians also seem to find a way to push the Ponies to play very well in order to come away victorious. Browning is the epitome of a scrappy volleyball program, and they do have the ability to take advantage of teams who commit too many costly mistakes.

“It would be nice to be done in three games,” Havre High head coach Melanie Skoyen said. “But the year before last, we went to five games with Browning. As long as we are taking care of the ball on defense we should OK. We need to make sure we are always making the smartest plays, if the set is off, or it is a broken play, we need to make a smart play and at least get it over and make them make the mistakes.

“Browning has always had an unorthodox defense,” Skoyen added. “And it has always been effective for them. They always seem to improve more and more every year we play them, so we can’t afford to look past them and expect an easy match.”

But if the Blue Ponies can find a way to gel early on, they should be able earn a win over the Indians, as well as over several other squads this season.

Lacey Waid, an outside hitter, and Martha Stocker, a middle blocker/hitter are the only returning starters for the Ponies, and their play will be key Saturday. Waid has the potential to lead the Ponies in kills this season, but the Ponies will also get solid hitting from fellow senior Breck Don. Jacinta Finneman will also play solid minutes in the middle, while sophomore Dani Wagner will have to step up and help lead the way from the setter position. If Wagner can run the hitting attack with precision passing, she and Waid should have a big day Saturday.

“We have been working a lot in practice, and the girls are even staying after to keep working together,” Skoyen said. “They are working on getting that connection, and I am much more confident in Wagner and our hitters now, than I was after our scrimmage last weekend.”

Serve-receive has been a early concern for HHS, and coach Skoyen doesn’t want that to be an excuse for letting the Indians sneak away with any games.

Also key in a win this weekend will be Jordyn Warren and Tatiana Ralph. The Ponies have abandoned the use of a libero, but will use Ellery Bresler, Warren and Ralph as three very solid defensive specialists. Waid and Aubrea Worm (another solid hitter for the Ponies) will also help carry the serve-receive load, as the Ponies hope to effortlessly transfer from serve-receive into their offensive sets and attacks.

“Our serve-receive and defense is what we have to keep improving on,” Skoyen said. “I feel like we have a really good offense, but we can’t take advantage of that, or use our hitters if we are struggling with serve-receive or defense. We have to get better at that, and we have to make sure we are giving aggressive touches and hits. We can’t scramble and just give them free balls the entire match.”

Havre will attempt to start the season with a win, facing the Browning Indians Saturday in Browning.