Clean Sweep: Pony spikers down Conrad and Choteau

Havre High head volleyball coach Tamecia Jarvis has done a great job of challenging her team this season. And this weekend, she challenged the Blue Ponies to beat both of their non-conference opponents, and HHS rose to that challenge, sweeping both Conrad and Choteau.

The impressive thing about the Ponies’ back-to-back wins at the HHS gymnasium Saturday is that neither the Cowgirls nor the Bulldogs managed to take away a single set from the Ponies, who improved their overall record to 9-6 on the season. The Ponies took down Conrad 25-11, 25-13 and 25-22. They beat the Bulldogs 25-20, 25-20 and 25-21.

“I thought we did a much better job of finishing,” Jarvis said. “That is something that we have been struggling with, so it was good to see us do a good job of finishing against both Conrad and Choteau.”

In the first match of the day against Conrad, the Ponies jumped ahead of the Cowgirls with a dominating effort in a first set victory of 25-11. Then, in the second game, the Ponies continued to hit the ball really well, and behind the effort of senior Megan Erickson, who notched four kills in the set, Havre rolled to another 25-13 victory.

In the third set, the Cowgirls finally started fighting back. And after the Ponies went up 12-7, Conrad went on a 9-4 run to 10-4 run to take a 19-17 advantage in an effort to extend the match. The score was tied at 21-21 when the Ponies got a key kill from Dani Wagner. Then, an ace from Madison Huebsch led to match-point, which HHS won thanks to a Conrad hitting error.

“We just stuck together when we got done and found a way to come back,” Erickson said.

Jacey McDonald led the way for Havre with 10 kills. Erickson contributed with nine kills and Reggie Bernard had six. Wagner boasted 23 assists in the win.

In the second match of the day Saturday night, the Ponies were out for revenge. Earlier in the season, the Bulldogs beat Havre in four games in Choteau and Havre was determined to return the favor.

Havre quickly jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the opening set and after an ace by Wagner midway through the first game the Ponies found themselves in front 15-10. Havre built a lead as large as 24-15 but the set was finished when Wagner scored a kill to make the final 25-20.

In the second set, the Ponies once again got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 10-7 lead following a kill by Wagner. The Bulldogs rallied late in the match and got within four, but a late kill by Wagner and a block by Bernard put the set away for HHS, which won it 25-20.

In the third set, the Bulldogs came out hot and jumped out to a 10-7 lead. Yet, the Ponies responded with another big run and scored 10 of the next 12 points to gain a 17-11 lead. However, Choteau had an answer of its own and scored seven of the next eight to get within one point at 19-18.

The two teams were tied at 20-20, but a kill from Wagner broke the tie and the Ponies scored four of the next five points to ice the 25-21 win and the 3-0 sweep.

“I think it shows how much we have improved,” Jarvis said. “Against both teams we had to come back in the third set, but we kept fighting and found a way to win both of those.”

Wagner had an outstanding match against Choteau with a match-high 12 kills to go along with nine assists and six aces. Bernard had five kills and four blocks. Naomi Terry had nine assists and seven digs, Megan Erickson also pitched in with four kills and seven digs of her own.

“Dani did a great job,” Jarvis said. “I think she has done a great job of keeping the defense off balance. She realizes that she doesn’t have to kill the ball every time and she is having success with that.”

Havre will have two Central A conference games ahead on the schedule this week. The Ponies will take on Livingston Friday and Belgrade Saturday. Both games will be inside the HHS gymnasium.

Havre def. Conrad

25-11 25-13, 25-22

Havre: Kills: 35 (Jacy McDonald 11). Blocks: 3 (Naomi Terry 1.5). Aces: 8 (Dani Wagner 3). Digs: 28 (Madison Huebsch 9). Assists: 27 (Wagner 19).

Havre def. Choteau

25-20, 25-20, 25-21

Havre: Kills 26 (Dani Wagner 12, Reggie Bernard 5, Megan Erickson 4), Assists 18 (Wagner 9, Naomi Terry 9), Aces 12 (Wagner 6, Madison Huebsch 3, Reggie Bernard 2), Digs 47 (Wagner 12, Huebsch 10) Blocks 10 (Bernard 4, Jacey McDonald 4).