Rangers, Panthers edge Blue Pony spikers in their final home stand

The Havre High volleyball team was hoping to close out its home schedule with a win or two over conference foes Livingston and Belgrade Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, the Rangers and Panthers had other ideas.

Havre played host to Livingston Thursday and dropped a competitive match to its Central A rival, by the scores of 25-22, 24-26, 25-14 and 27-25. The next day, Havre welcomed Belgrade into the HHS gymnasium and the Panthers, who are unbeaten in the Central A, dominated the Ponies, sweeping Havre 25-9, 25-9 and 25-13. The Ponies are now 6-10 overall and 0-5 in conference play.

"I thought that we had some chances," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "We just were not consistent. We just didn't execute."

Against the Rangers, Havre fell behind early, spotting Livingston eight of the first nine points in the first set. Havre eventually rallied and tied the score at 18-18. The Ponies even led 22-20 after an ace by Katie Donaldson, but the Ponies couldn't hold the lead. Livingston scored the final five points of the set and won 25-22 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

It wouldn't be the only time in the match that the Ponies failed to close out a lead late in a set.

Havre managed to tie things up in the second with a 26-24 victory. With the score tied at 24-24, Cassidy Acor notched a kill that put the Ponies in front and Logan Huebch had another that gave Havre the win.

The match was tied at that point, but Livingston won the third set 25-14. In the fourth, Havre grabbed an early lead and ultimately led 24-21. However, the Rangers battled back to tie the score and rallied from a 25-24 deficit to win 27-25, taking the set and the match.

"We just didn't have enough intensity out there," Jarvis said. "We didn't have anybody step up when we needed them to."

Camryn Huston had a big night for the Ponies in the loss, as she finished the match with 11 kills and three aces. Huebsch had nine kills for HHS, while Sam Oliver had 26 assists, 16 digs and 3.5 blocks. Acor also contributed with 4.5 blocks; Katie Donaldson added 16 digs. Aleah Peterson led the Rangers with 11 kills and 13 digs.

"I thought Camryn really showed up," Jarvis said. "She had probably her best match of the season."

After losing to Livingston, Havre took on Belgrade, but offered little resistance against the Panthers, who won the first two sets 25-9. Havre also lost in the third set 25-13 to complete the sweep.

The Panthers out-hit Havre 34 to 11 in terms of kills. Belgrade also managed seven aces compared to three, as well as 32 assists to just 11 for Havre. Bailey Christianson led the Panthers with 11 kills, while Taiden Blakely had 27 assists and two aces. Huston led Havre with three kills. She also had an ace. Paige Nelson contributed with 10 digs. Jessa Chvilicek also pitched in with three kills and three blocks.

Havre will close out its regular season Friday night on the road at Lewistown.

Livingston def. Havre

25-22, 24-26, 25-14, 27-25

Livingston – Aces 11 (Denie Hampson 4); Kills 41 (Aleah Peterson 11, Abby Kokot 7, Brooklyn Fitzgerald 6); Assists 37 (Skye Ingram 18, Hampson 14); Blocks 9 (Kokot 4, Fitzgerald 3); Digs 56 (Peterson 13, Josie Dominick 11).

Havre – Aces 12 (Camryn Huston 3); Kills 34 (Huston 11, Logan Huebsch 9); Assists 36 (Sam Oliver 26); Blocks 11 (Cassidy Acor 4.5, Oliver 3.5); Digs 61 (Oliver 18, Katie Donaldson 16).

Belgrade def. Havre

25-9, 25-9, 25-13

Belgrade – Kills 34 (Bailey Christianson 11), Assists 32 (Taiden Blakely 27), Aces 7 (Blakely 2, Brooke Gilbertson 2), Digs 46 (Taylor Christianson 11), Blocks 3 (B. Christianson, Blakely, McKenna Carlson).

Havre – Kills 11 (Camryn Huston 3, Jessa Chvilicek 3), Assists 11 (Sam Oliver 6), Aces 3 (Katie Donaldson, Huston, Payton Brown), Digs 46 (Paige Nelson 10, Alex Donaldson 10), Blocks 6 (Chvilicek 3).