Pony spikers host Central A rivals

Havre High volleyball has taken numerous steps forward since the start of the season, but nothing would be bigger for the program than finally getting a win over Belgrade.

The Panthers, who have dominated the Central A Conference in volleyball in recent seasons, are the defending Class A state champions and the only team to defeat Havre (9-6, 4-1) in conference play this season.

This weekend, Havre will get its chance, not only to knock off Belgrade, but to continue a stellar run through the conference schedule as the Ponies host Livingston and Belgrade in back-to-back days at the HHS gymnasium starting tonight. Havre and Livingston will kick things off tonight at approximately 7, while Havre and Belgrade will square off Saturday at around 5 p.m.

"It would be huge for us if we could beat Belgrade," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "We played them early in the season and we played them tough. But, I feel like we have improved a lot since then. We are a different team since that opening match."

Something else that makes this weekend special for the Ponies is the fact that the matches Friday and Saturday will be the final home appearance for the seniors on the Havre roster, which includes Dani Wagner, Reggie Bernard, Madison Huebsch, Katelyn Nystrom and Megan Erickson.

"They have all been a part of the program for a long time and have worked really hard," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "I think that we are going to miss all of them next year."

Entering play this weekend, the Ponies are currently sitting in second place in the Central A standings, behind only Belgrade, which is 6-0. Lewistown is in third place with a 2-3 record, while Livingston is fourth at 1-4.

That means these two conference games are immensely important for Havre. Not only does HHS still have a chance to earn the top seed in the league, the Ponies can at least wrap up the No. 2 spot in the conference with a split at home.

"I am not really thinking about anything like that," Jarvis said about the Central A standings. "We are just trying to take it one match at a time."

One thing that gives Havre a big advantage, not only this weekend, but in every Central A contest, is the fact that the Ponies possess one of the most talented and versatile players in the conference in Wagner.

Wagner ranks highly in a number of different statistical categories and is currently leading the Central A in overall kills with 162. The senior also leads the conference in aces with 62 and is also fourth in the conference in assists with 194.

In addition to Wagner, the Ponies have also been getting consistent production from other front-line players such as Bernard, who leads the Central A in blocks with 61.5 and Jacey McDonald, who is second in the conference in blocks with 47.5. Naomi Terry has also played a vital role for the Ponies and is fifth in the league in assists with 165. And in terms of digs, no one on the roster is doing a better job of getting them than Huebsch, who is third in the league in total digs on the season.

Livingston, a team Havre beat earlier in the season, boasts a solid roster that features Sierra Higgs, who is second in the conference in both kills and aces, as well as Aleah Peterson, Sarah Strickland and Lindsay Lane, who all contribute in a multitude of ways.

Yet, make no mistake, there is no team in the Central A quite like Belgrade. The Panthers hit the ball as well as any team in the conference and in addition to Bailey Christensen, who is third in the conference in kills, Belgrade has three others, Shania Neubauer, Emily Schram and Sydney Lamberth, who rank in the top 10 in kills.

"We just need to play smart," Jarvis said. "We have to make sure that we play together and that we play as a team and communication again is going to be key. They also need to make sure they are having fun on the floor. If they do that then I think everything will work itself out."

Havre will host Livingston tonight at 7 and Belgrade Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at the HHS gymnasium.