Five things to watch in Hi-Line high school volleyball

With the return of fall sports, there's also a renewed sense of normalcy that comes with it. While COVID-19 will still be in the headlines going forward, the upcoming high school volleyball season should see at least, a return to some of the things that were missing last season.

Never-the-less, even last season saw exciting volleyball up and down the Hi-Line and this fall should be no different. With the start of the season now just a little over a week away, here's five things to watch for when it comes to local high school volleyball.

1. Havre High's continued rise

After going back to the Class A state tournament a year ago, head coach Steph Huse certainly has the Blue Ponies heading in the right direction. And even though they graduated some very good players, and a lot of senior leadership, Havre is still loaded with talent, and should vie for not just the Northeast A conference championship, but the Ponies will certainly battle the likes of Hardin and Billings Central for an Eastern A title as well.

2. How good will Fort Benton still be?

The Longhorns have had a spectacular run in girls sports of late, and volleyball was no different. Still, with the likes of Aspen Giese and others now graduated, it will be interesting to see if the Longhorns continue their District 7C reign. The talent is still there, though, and Fort Benton is likely to stick around as a top Northern C squad.

3. Who else will be 7C contenders?

Fort Benton is a known commodity, but the 7C is loaded with tough teams, and this season will be the same. Chinook is always a threat, as is North Star, but both teams graduated key players from a year ago. However, expect this teams to still be tough, while Geraldine-Highwood, CJI and Box Elder may also be in the mix come tournament time.

4. Time to contend

Box Elder has been pushing to be an up-and-comer in Class C volleyball for some time now. And while the Bears have found success at times recently, 2021 could really be the year they break through. The Bears return a wealth of talent, and are deep, so, they likely will be a team that is ready to contend in the fall.

5. Yelena Miller is a force

After an earning All-State last fall for the Ponies, MB/MH Yelena Miller went on to help the Ponies win a state championship in basketball. Now, she returns to the volleyball court where plenty of eyes will be on the 6-0 Blue Pony junior. Miller is an incredible talent and can be a force for the Ponies on both sides of the net. So, not only is she one of the best players on the Hi-Line this fall, she's one of the best volleyball players in all of Class A, and it will be awfully fun to watch her progress.