Friday's Prep Volleyball: Blue Ponies advance to state; Northern C results

With a trhilling five-set win over Billings Central on Friday afternoon, the Havre High volleyball team stayed unbeaten at the Eastern A Divisional in Livingston. More importantly, the Ponies locked up a berth in next week's Class A state tournament. Billings Central, the Eastern A regular season champion, had a 2-1 lead on the Ponies, but Havre stormed back to take the final two sets.

Havre takes on Central A rival Belgrade Saturday at 1 p.m. in the unbeaten semifinal. The Ponies can finish no worse than third in the tournament.

For complete HHS coverage, see Monday's Havre Daily News.

Meanwhile, at the Northern C in Belt, the Chinook Sugarbeeters suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, when they were beaten by Belt in three sets. However, the Beeters are still alive for a state tournament berth, but must win the third-place match Saturday in order to get there.

North Star is alive as well. The Knights won two loser-out matches, and will play Geraldine-Highwood in the fourth-place match Saturday morning. If the Knights beat the Rivals, they will take on Chinook for the right to go to the state tourney.

For full Northern C coverage, see Tuesday's Hi-Line Volleyball Roundup.

Eastern A

At Livingston

(4 teams advance)

Thursday

Livingston def. Laurel 3-0, first round

Hardin def. Lewistown 3-1, second round

Belgrade def. Glendive 3-0, second round

Havre def. Miles City 3-0, second round

Billings Central def. Livingston 3-0, second round

Friday

Laurel def. Lewistown 3-0, loser out

Miles City def. Livingston 3-1, loser out

Glendive def. Laurel 3-2, loser out

Havre def. Billings Central 3-2, third round

Belgrade def. Hardin 3-1, third round

Billings Central def. Glendive 3-0, loser out

Game 12: Miles City vs. Hardin, 8 p.m., loser out

Saturday

Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Billings Central, 11 a.m., loser fourth place

Game 14: Havre vs. Belgrade, 1 p.m., undefeated semifinal

Game 15: Game 14 loser vs. Game 13 winner, 3 p.m., loser third place

Game 16: Game 14 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 5 p.m., championship

Game 17: Second championship, 7 p.m., if necessary

Northern C

At Belt

(2 teams advance)

Thursday

Belt def. Valier 3-0, first round

Chester-Joplin-Inveress def. Dutton-Brady 3-0, first round

Chinook def. Geraldine-Highwood 3-1, first round

North Star def. Sunburst 3-0, first round

Belt def. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 3-1, second round

Chinook def. North Star 3-2, second round

Friday

Valier def. Dutton-Brady 3-2, loser out

Geraldine-Highwood def. Sunburst 3-0, loser out

North Star def. Valier 3-1, loser out

Geraldine-Highwood def. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 3-1, loser out

Belt def. Chinook 3-0, undefeated semifinal

Saturday

Game 12: North Star vs. Geraldine-Highwood, 10 a.m., loser fourth place

Game 13: Chinook vs. Game 12 winner, 30 min. following Game 12, loser third place

Game 14: Belt vs. Game 13 winner, 4 p.m., championship

Game 15: Second championship, if necessary, 30 min. following Game 14