Blue Pony spikers start the season in Laurel

The Havre High volleyball team is staring in the face of their first challenge, ready to step onto the court to start a brand new season.

The Blue Ponies are in their battle stations and are heading into Laurel today to square off against the Locomotives as part of the Eastern A Tip-Off. The last time the Blue Ponies played the Locomotives, it was in the Havre High Gymnasium in 2015, where the Ponies won 3-2.

Even with that win, a lot has changed between the two teams in four years. Havre and Laurel both have different varsity squads that will take the court. This matchup will look to be something new and exciting for the fans to see. Two teams who last met years back and are both wanting to start the season off on a good note.

Havre head coach Tamecia Jarvis knows that the girls are ready to show up, all they must focus on is communicating and working together to put forth the best game possible. Jarvis also hopes the girls will have fun throughout the season.

"I think it's going to be a good season," Jarvis said. "The girls are looking pretty good. I feel really good about some of the players that we have coming back. Individually, we have a lot of really talented girls. We just need to find a way to work together and play really well together. That's going to be the key."

The Blue Ponies have been working hard during the summer to polish their game for this season. The girls aim to have their dedication and hard work pay off this Friday, especially when playing a squad they haven't come across very recently.

Blending talent and finding ways for it to fit together is a common charge for a head coach, however, Jarvis will have an advantage this season over a lot of other teams as she will have three All-Conference performers coming back, including All-State hitter Cassidy Acor.

Acor was highly productive last season for the Ponies and put together a conference-best hitting percentage of .337, as well as 226 kills, which ranked third in the Central A. Yet, she isn't the only big-time hitter on the roster, as Jessa Chvilicek, who earned Second-Team All-Conference honors after 148 kills and a hitting percentage of .200 last season, is back for her senior season as well.

Along with two talented seniors in the front row controlling the net, as Acor and Chvilicek are two of the best block defenders in Class A, the Ponies will also have the services of Sam Oliver, who also was named Second-Team All-Conference in 2018. It was the second time Oliver earned All-Conference honors and she did it by finishing third in the conference in aces and assists, as well as sixth in digs.

Jarvis also mentioned that Peyton Brown would be another key contributor, and she was an essential defender for the team last season and was among the team leader in digs. She also has a strong serve and is another senior with plenty of experience.

But the Ponies also have even more experience returning in the likes of Katelyn Maloughney, Sydney Wilting, Kinsey Adkins and Quinn McDonald. Add to that the addition of Talia Ralph, Ellie Collins and others, and Havre has the depth to compete with anyone.

With Laurel finishing last season with a 5-5 record overall and a 4-3 conference record, the Locomotives have a lot they will look to prove this season.

This year, Laurel is under new head coach Kortney Klein, a three-time Class B state volleyball champion from Huntley Project. Moving from a Class B program to a Class A program can be challenging, but Laurel has a head coach with some intelligent, high-level experience managing their game plan. It's going to be a new look for Locomotives volleyball and will certainly give the Blue Ponies a challenge to start off the season.

Last year, the Ponies finished their season with an 11-8 overall record and a 3-1 conference record. This year, the girls aim to have as good of an overall record as they did in their conference games. A trip to divisionals is a long-term goal for the Ponies and they will have to bring their top game this season.

Havre has shown its skill on the court in their practices and scrimmages throughout the summer. Players with a talent in getting kills for the team, defensive saves that come up clutch in heated games, and impressive runs have given the Ponies something to look forward to this season. All they need to do is make it pass the struggles on the court. Do that, and the squad has a good chance of dominating throughout the season.

The Ponies will get their chance to flex their hard work and talent soon. Opening the season with a win against Laurel will set off the season and keep the squad motivated as the push forward. It's no surprise the Blue Ponies are driven and excited for the game this week.

Friday's season opener against Laurel will begin at 1 p.m. in the Laurel High School gymnasium. Havre will continue with pool play matches today, and play in the bracket of the Eastern A Tip-Off Saturday.