Blue Ponies host Panthers on senior night

The Havre High volleyball team will be headed to Glendive next week for the Eastern A Divisional tournament, but prior to that the Blue Ponies will celebrate senior night inside the HHS gymnasium Saturday against Belgrade.

The Panthers and the Ponies have been rivals for years, but this will constitute the last time Belgrade and Havre will meet in a Central A conference match, as the Panthers are heading to Class AA next season. Besides that fact, the match has a lot of other significance, especially with the Ponies bringing a 4-1 conference record into the contest, which leaves them just one game behind Belgrade.

"I think it's a good match for our girls," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "I think it will be really good competition and we just have to keep playing the way we have been the last few matches. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain and we just need to play our hearts out."

One thing that could give the Ponies an emotional edge is the honoring of two seniors, Kadyn Acor and Caitlyn Terry.

"It's going to be a little bittersweet," Jarvis said. "I have coached them since they have been in the program since they were back in seventh grade, so this is kind of my first class that I am shipping off. They have really been fun to watch this season and I know they both have good things ahead of them. They have each done a lot for our program."

Unfortunately, only one of Havre's seniors will be able to play on senior night and that's Acor, who has been an effective contributor on both offense and defense. Terry was starting to come into her own, especially on the defensive end, but her season was cut short due to an injury.

"That's a tough thing, to get injured when you are a senior," Jarvis said. "I feel bad for her because she has really put in a lot of hard work this season."

Losing an experienced player at this stage in the season is never a good thing, but after beating Lewistown for the second time in the regular season, defeating the Eagles in four sets Thursday night in Lewistown, Havre's confidence is sky high, and it should be after winning nine of its last 10 matches.

Lewistown, who lost in straight sets to the Ponies in Havre earlier this season, dropped this match in four sets, with Havre taking it 25-23, 22-25, 25-17 and 25-15. The Ponies actually finished the match with fewer kills, 37 compared to 40 for Lewistown, but HHS wound up with more aces (13-7) and more digs (50-43).

In terms of hitting the ball, no one did it better than Cassidy Acor Thursday night, as the

junior finished the match with 18 kills and 2.5 blocks. Jessa Chvilicek, another key player around the net for the Ponies, also had a solid night, registering nine kills and 2.5 blocks, tying Acor for the match high.

Sam Oliver also had another big night for the Ponies, leading all players with four aces and 37 assists. She also finished with 10 digs. Kadyn Acor also contributed with five kills and on the back end, both Sydney Wilting and Peyton Brown finished with 10 digs. Anna Zimmer stood out in the loss for Lewistown with 15 kills, two blocks and two aces.

Havre, which has won nine out of its last 10 matches, will put its winning streak on the line Saturday against Belgrade. The two teams will square off at approximately 5 p.m. Havre will play at the Eastern A Divisional next weekend in Glendive.

Havre def. Lewistown

25-23, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15.

Havre - Aces 13 (Sam Oliver 4, Peyton Brown 3, Kinsey Adkins 3); Kills 37 (Cassidy Acor 18, Jessa Chvilicek 9, Kadyn Acor 5). Assists 41 (Sam Oliver 37); Blocks 5 (Cassidy Acor 2.5, Jessa Chvilicek 2); Digs 50 (Oliver, Browing, Sdyney Wilting).

Lewistown - Aces 7 (Auriel Krummeide 3, Libbery Jenness 2, Anna Zimmer 2); Kils 40 (Anna Zimmer 15, Kylie Zimmer 12); Blocks 5 (Anna Zimmer 2); Assists 36 (Becca Bawden 36); Digs 43.