HHS spikers play well against Eastern A

The Havre High volleyball team has already proven to be vastly improved from a season ago. And Saturday in Lewistown, against a pair of non-conference foes, the Blue Ponies proved it once again.

Traveling to Lewistown to face a pair of teams that they could meet down the road in the Eastern A Divisional tournament, the Ponies earned a split, falling to Hardin in four sets by the scores of 25-20, 24-26, 25-20 and 25-21, but defeating Laurel in a five-game thriller by the scores of 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-12.

With one win and one loss, HHS is now 3-2 in regulation matches so far this season under new head coach Tamecia Jarvis, which is a great improvement from a season ago when the team won just four matches all season long.

“I thought that we played pretty well,” HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. “We didn’t hit the ball that well. That is something that we need to work on, but we hustled really well and competed hard.”

Elissa Lind led the way for Hardin in the match against the Ponies as she racked up 13 kills for the Bulldogs.

The Ponies, who have plenty of firepower of their own, got a solid match from All-Stater Dani Wagner, who had seven kills and four aces. Senior Megan Erickson also put together a solid effort as she tied Wagner with a team-high seven kills and also managed a team-high 19 digs. Naomi Terry contributed with 15 assists, while Jacey McDonald pitched in with three blocks.

While the Ponies took only one game off of Hardin, in the second match of the day, the Ponies were determined to start the day right against Laurel and opened up the match with a 25-19 win. Yet, the Locomotives evened the match with a 25-23 win in game two, before Havre jumped back in front with a 25-22 triumph in game three.

HHS tried to close out Laurel in four games, but failed to do so as the Locomotives gutted out a 25-19 win to force a fifth and deciding game. However, the Ponies refused to be denied and in the final game, they edged out a 15-12 to earn their third victory of the young season.

“I like where we are at right now,” Jarvis said. “We have played some teams from our conference and I think that we stack up well against them. I think we can compete with any of them.”

Paige Nelson stepped up for Havre in the win as she finished the match with a total of 12 kills. Senior Reggie Bernard also had a stellar match as she led the team in blocks with 4.5, as well as aces with three. Terry led the team in assists again with 12, while Wagner was the team leader in digs with 18.

“Everybody is stepping up at different times and with their hard work,” Jarvis said. “I am moving a lot of girls around and they are accepting those rolls and learning to play different positions when we play different teams. So everyone is stepping up really well.”

Abbie Lohof led the way for Laurel with nine kills and 3.5 blocks. Maygan McFate contributed with 19 assists and Sarah Wiscomb amassed 40 digs. Kylee Foos also added five aces.

The Ponies (3-2 overall, 1-1 conference) will make their home debut at the HHS gymnasium this Friday night, when they will host Central A rival Lewistown. Then, Saturday, Havre will travel to Choteau to take on the Bulldogs in a non-conference tilt. Both matches will get underway at approximately 7 p.m.

Hardin def. Havre

25-20, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21

Hardin: Kills 45 (Elissa Lind 13), Blocks 12 (Keaunna Mason 9), Assists 33 (Kourtney Chavez 16), Digs 75 (Ashley Uffelman 19), Aces 6 (Kourtney Chavez 3).

Havre: Kills 34 (Megan Erickson 7, Dani Wagner 7), Blocks 5 (Jacey McDonald 3), Assists 26 (Naomi Terry 15), Digs 91 (Megan Erickson 19), Aces 4 (Dani Wagner 3).

Havre def. Laurel

25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-12

Laurel: Kills 21 (Abbie Lohof 9), Blocks 6 (Lohof 3.5), Assists: 20 (Maygan McFate 19), Digs 90 (Sarah Wiscomb 40), Aces 12 (Kylee Foos 5).

Havre: Kills 27 (Paige Nelson 7), Blocks 13 (Reggie Bernard 4.5), Assists 22 (Naomi Terry 12), Digs 72 (Dani Wagner 18), Aces 10 (Reggie Bernard 3).