George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com
It was yet another good season for the Havre High volleyball team and Blue Pony head coach Bill Huebsch. After going 17-8 overall and 7-3 in the Central A Conference, the Ponies finished third at the Central A tournament, and narrowly missed out on a return trip to the Class A state tourney in Bozeman. And for their efforts, several Blue Ponies were awarded by the Central A and by all of Class A recently. Karla Hellegaard, Mariah Armstrong, Sarah Blessum and Janelle Job all earned Central A All-Conference honors. Hellegaard, who led the Blue Ponies in kills (274) and blocks (40) was named first-team all-conference, and she was named Class A First-Team All-State. Armstrong, who paced the Ponies with 40 aces, was also named firstteam all-conference, while Blessum, who led the Ponies with 683 assists, earned second-team honors, and Job was named honorable mention. Hayley Donovan topped HHS in serve percentage, while Holly Cartwright led the team in serve-receive percentage and digs with 198. HHS had 13 players and one manager letter this season, including seniors Emily Hilliard, Kaylee Johnson, Blessum, Job and Armstrong. Cartwright and Donovan lettered for the second straight season and Hellegaard is a three-time letter winner. Mary Kaercher, Morgan McCann, Madison Ruff, Cali Freier, Kelli Kelsey and Paighton Gilman all lettered for the first time. Kaercher, McCann, Cartwright, Job, Ruff, Donovan, Freier, Johnson, Hellegaard and Blessum also earned Class A Academic All-State honors this season.
