2017 Havre High Volleyball Preview: Smash It: Blue Pony volleyball team excited for a new season

Two years ago, the Havre High volleyball went to the Class A state tournament for the first time in nearly a decade. But after missing out in 2016, the goal for the Blue Ponies is to try and get back there.

Leading the way for Havre this season is third-year head coach Tamecia Jarvis and a roster that features six seniors and two juniors.

"We have six seniors out there and I think that they are all ready to go and have positive outlooks for the season," Jarvis said. "They all get along pretty well and have really good chemistry, so I think that we have a chance to have a good season."

Last season, the Ponies had to worry about replacing Dani Wagner, but this year, HHS will need to find a way to replace the production of Jacey McDonald, an All-State performer last season.

One way Havre will go about that is relying on seniors like Paige Nelson and Emilee Cariveau, who are the team's top returning hitters. Logan Huebsch is another key returner for HHS and was eighth in the Central A in aces per set.

While Nelson was one of the Ponies' top hitters in 2016, she was also one of the team's better defenders. She led Havre with 178 digs and ranked seventh overall in the Central A. Senior Katie Donaldson was also effective on defense, averaging 2.99 digs per set, which was fifth in the Central A. Alex Donaldson, another senior is another player that will contribute for Havre along with Camryn Huston, who will be a middle hitter.

However, if the Ponies are going to contend for a state tournament berth, they will need help from sophomores like Sam Oliver and Cassidy Acor, who are both slated to play big roles this season. Acor, who is a 5-10 middle hitter, offers some much-needed size on the block. She also has the chance to be a top hitter on the offensive end.

"Cassidy is tall and we haven't really had any height," Jarvis said. "She has really come out of her shell and she has been a beast."

Oliver, who played as a reserve on the varsity team last season, will be the setter. Other players that have a chance to contribute this season are Caitlyn Terry, Kadyn Acor, Peyton Brown and Jessa Chvilicek.

"We have some good athletes," Jarvis said. "We have some good experience, but we have some good younger players that have been stepping up, too."

One thing that Jarvis wants her team to focus on this season is generating more offense. She said that can be achieved with the team running more set plays and trying to be more strategic about where they are placing the ball.

"I want to see us run more of our sets this year," Jarvis said. "I want to see more quicks and things like that. I just don't want to see using a high ball all the time. I want to see them mix it up a little bit and be a little more aggressive."

Unlike football, the volleyball team will still be playing in the Central A for seeding purposes before taking part in the Eastern A Divisional Tournament at the end of the season. That means the schedule will feature two matches apiece, both home and away against Belgrade, Lewistown, Livingston and Belgrade.

The schedule will also feature home-and-away contests with Class B opponents Cut Bank and Conrad, in addition to the season-opening Eastern A Tip-Off Tournament in Glendive. After starting the season at the tip-off tournament, Havre will play both Livingston and Belgrade in Belgrade Sept. 1. Then Havre will take part in the Panther Classic in Belgrade Sept. 2, as well as the Electric City Classic in Great Falls Sept. 8-9.

"It will be good for us to go down to Glendive and get to see the other teams in our conference," Jarvis said. "At the same time, I am not too worried about any of the other teams right now. I am really more just focused on us and trying to help us improve and get where I want us to be."

Where the Ponies ultimately want to be is back at the state tournament, where they were in 2015. But, to get there they will need to overcome a difficult Eastern A that features traditional powers Belgrade, Lewistown and Billings Central, along with other contenders such as Hardin and Sidney.

"We are just excited to get the season started," Jarvis said. "But it will be good to see some of these other teams at the (Tip-Off Tournament) just to see how we stack up with everyone else and see what we need to work on compared to everyone else."

The Ponies will open the season Friday at the Eastern A Tip-Off Tournament in Glendive.