Pony spiker's dream season ends at state

The Havre High volleyball team had hopes of making it to Saturday at the Class A state tournament, even after an opening-round loss to Butte Central.

Yet the Blue Ponies didn't quite have enough to make it past Whitefish, the fourth-place team from the Western A, which defeated HHS in a dramatic five-sets to eliminate Havre from the Class A state tournament Friday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. The Bulldogs knocked off the Ponies by the scores of 9-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13 and 15-11.

Judging by the first two sets, it appeared as though Havre was the superior team. The Ponies flew out of the games winning the first set by the score of 25-9 and the second set by the score of 25-19.

Yet, for whatever reason, the Ponies just could not shut the door on the Bulldogs, who rallied to win the third set 25-18 and the fourth in dominating fashion, 25-13, which forced a fifth and final set to determine the winner.

With their season on the line, the Ponies and Bulldogs battled it out in a win or go home scenario and unfortunately for HHS, it was Whitefish that came out on top, 15-11.

The Ponies did outhit the Bulldogs with 35 kills to 33, had nine blocks and 10 aces compared to eight blocks and seven aces for Whitefish. But, despite winning the statistical matchup, the Ponies couldn't put the ball away when they needed to.

"We came out and we started great," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "We just made too many mistakes. We kept putting ourselves in a hole. We started to get a little bit timid at certain points and I think we lost because of our own mistakes."

Dani Wagner was outstanding in defeat for the Ponies with 16 kills, 10 assists, 20 digs and three aces. Reggie Bernard was also stellar in her final match as a Pony with 10 kills and 4.5 blocks. Megan Erickson managed 15 digs and nine kills, while Naomi Terry contributed with 15 assists and four aces.

Allie Schulz was the top performer for the Bulldogs with 10 kills, 21 assists and 12 digs. Nina Thew added nine kills and Cailyn Ross pitched in with seven kills and three aces.

"I think that the girls were nervous with this being the first time being there," Jarvis said. "And I just think that nerves got them a little bit."

Whitefish kept itself alive with the win, but it was another Western A team that ended up with the crown as the Columbia Falls Wildcats went through the tournament undefeated and knocked off Corvallis to capture the state championship. Corvallis did finish second, while Butte Central, which made just its second appearance in school history was third.

Despite losing twice at state and their last four matches to close the season, the Ponies (14-10) still took a big step forward in 2015 with 14 wins and their first state tournament berth since 2007.

"I think, they obviously had a great year compared to how they had done the past few years," Jarvis said. "The girls worked hard and they learned how to win and got to feel what it's like to win and to have a winning season, which was good for them.

"They achieved their goal of making it to the state tournament," Jarvis added. "I think we had a great season overall and these girls deserved it."

Whitefish def. Havre

9-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-11 (lo)

Whitefish: Kills 33 (Allie Schulz 10, Nina Thew 9, Cailyn Ross 7), Assists 33 (Schulz 21, Libby Nagler 12), Blocks 8 (Ross 5), Digs 77 (Ellie Dewan 24, Serena Hemmingson 12, Schulz 12), Aces 7 (Ross 2, Dewan 2, Nagler 2).

Havre: Kills 35 (Dani Wanger 16, Reggie Bernard 10, Megan Erickson 9), Assists 26 (Naomi Terry 15, Wagner 10), Blocks 9 (Bernard 4.5, Jacey McDonald 4), Digs 88 (Madison Huebsch 27, Wanger 20, Erickson 15), Aces 10 (Terry 4, Wagner 3).