Big matches ahead for Blue Pony spikers

The Havre High volleyball team has been working on improving over the past few weeks and while the Blue Ponies have gotten some good results against Class B opponents, the real test starts with matches against CMR and Lewistown this week.

The Ponies, who just played their first home match of the season last Saturday, will be back in the HHS gymnasium tonight, as they host their Class AA rivals. The match will start at approximately 7.

“I think that we are getting better,” HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. “We just need to keep finding our roles and correcting some of the little mistakes that we are making right now.”

Havre, which is 3-7 overall this season and 0-2 in the Central A conference, will take part in an even bigger match Friday, as the Ponies will pay a visit to Lewistown to take on the Eagles (5-5, 1-1).

One thing that has helped the Ponies improve over the past couple weeks has been the return of Naomi Terry, who missed the first month of the season due to injury. Terry, a Second-Team All-Conference performer a season ago, has made an immediate impact in her return to the lineup and in Havre’s home opener, the senior notched 22 assists and five aces. However, Terry isn’t the only Havre player shining right now, as fellow senior Jacey McDonald has also been playing well.

McDonald is still among the leaders in the Central A with 68 kills. She also currently is the conference leader in blocks with 28.5. Another senior who has come on strong for the Ponies recently is Ceyara Plante, who is ninth in the Central A in blocks with 10.5. Other key contributors on the defensive end for HHS are Katie Donaldson, who is second in the Central A with 153 digs, and Claire Worm, who has 114 digs.

Havre has struggled getting into the win column so far this season, much like its opponent tonight, CMR, which comes in with a record of 3-7. The Lady Rustlers, were just defeated by Great Falls High Monday and like the Ponies, come into the match fresh off a defeat, yet as a Class AA team, HHS will still have its work cut out for itself.

After hosting CMR tonight, Havre will head to Lewistown for a critical road match in Central A conference play. Following losses to both Belgrade and Livingston Sept. 2, the Ponies are in need of a win, which would be their first in conference play. Every team in the Central A is currently chasing 4-0 Belgrade and while it may be difficult for Lewistown or Havre to catch the Panthers, the race for second and third is wide open.

The Eagles will be led by a slew of talented players, highlighted by Ajiah Ross, who has 90 kills, which ranks second in the Central A. The Eagles also have other strong hitters such as Anna Zimmer, Haydn Potter and Carley Carpenter, who are all among the top-10 in the conference in kills.

“Lewistown is always tough,” Jarvis said. “They have some girls that are big and can hit the ball.”

Havre and CMR will get things started tonight at 7 in the HHS gymnasium. The Ponies will then travel to Lewistown Friday for another match that will begin around 7 p.m.