George Ferguson
Havre Daily News Sports
gferguson@havredailynews.com
The Havre High volleyball team is coming off its first adverse weekend in almost a month. The Ponies dropped a difficult nonconference loss at Cut Bank last Thursday, before rebounding to hold off Browning at home Saturday.
Now the Blue Ponies are preparing for another challenging weekend as they get set to play a home-and-away series with the Great Falls schools. HHS will start the weekend off by hosting Great Falls High on Friday at 7 p.m. The following day the Ponies will travel to the Electric City to take on the CM Russell Rustlers.
In its last two matches, the Blue Ponies have been less than perfect, unlike their near-perfect start to the 2005 season. Havre was dominated by Cut Bank in three straight games. In that match, the Ponies had trouble passing the ball and defending Cut Bank's serve-receive game.
On Saturday, the Ponies got off to a blazing start against Browning, and it appeared that they had put their troubles to rest. The Ponies smothered the Indians in the first game 25-9. But in games two and three, Havre wasn't as sharp, or consistent on either end of the floor, but still managed to put the Indians away in three games.
Both matches this weekend should be difficult for Havre. The Bison will present some size difficulties for the Ponies. GFH has a strong presence at the net, led by outstanding hitters Bridget Walsh and Tara Udall. Kiri Winkler is another player who gives the Bison some height at the net.
Saturday's matchup with the Rustlers is a rematch between the two teams. CMR swept Havre in pool play at the Electric City Invitational last month. Since that time, however, the Rustlers have struggled in the Eastern AA conference. CMR is just 2-9 overall on the year.
The Rustlers are led by Dani Manchester and Jordan Skovron at the net. Melissa Fry is also a consistent setter for CMR.
The Ponies come into this weekend's nonconference action with a 10-3 overall record. Havre also sits atop the Central A conference standings with a perfect 5-0 record. The Ponies won't get back to league play until Oct. 15 when they travel to archrival Lewistown.
Friday night's match between Havre and GFH is set to get under way at 7 p.m. at the Havre High gymnasium. Saturday's match at CMR is scheduled to get under way at 4 p.m. at the CMR Fieldhouse in Great Falls.
