Powerful Eagles sweep Pony spikers

In the final match of the regular season, the Havre High volleyball team played well. But playing a top team like the Lewistown Golden Eagles on the road, the Blue Ponies were not able to end their season with another Central A conference win.

The Ponies were in Lewistown on Friday, where the Eagles completed the sweep over HHS. The Eagles defeated the Ponies in three games by scores of 25-15, 25-12, and 25-12.

With the loss the Ponies remain near the bottom of the conference standings with a record of 2-6 in league play, and a record of 5-12 overall. But despite going out with a tough 3-0 loss, the Ponies played well overall and should lean on some positive momentum moving forward.

“They are tough, and they definitely played their best against us,” Havre High head coach Melanie Skoyen said. “And we weren’t playing bad by any means, we were playing good volleyball, but it was just a lot of long rally’s that went their way because they showed better defense than we did. But this match shows how good Lewistown is this year, they have improved a lot since we saw them last, as have we, but this also shows the difference of getting to play together year round like they do, and playing for three months together like we do.”

The scores may not show it, but the Ponies did play well, especially when it came to limiting errors. The Ponies only had two serving errors on the night, and hitting errors were just as absent. The defense also had plenty of bright spots, but just couldn’t outlast the solid hitting from the Eagles. Serve receive was also solid by the Ponies, another positive note as that was something the Ponies struggled with early, and have designated ample time to try and fix this year.

HHS did earn 28 digs in the match, and Tatiana Ralph led the team with eight. They did not record a block, but did have three aces, including two from Aubrea Worm. The Ponies also had 12 kills, with Martha Stocker and Worm pacing the efforts with four kills each.

Lewistown racked up 38 kills, seven blocks, 30 assists, 54 digs, and seven aces against the Ponies.

It was a good opportunity for the Ponies to play with their lineup as well. Some young athletes have been making an impact with the varsity team late in the season, and that continued as the Ponies prepare for the divisional tournament next weekend in Lewistown.

Ralph continues to get playing time as an outside hitter. Reggie Bernard has also filled in quite nicely for the injured Jacinta Finneman. Madison Huebsch has also stepped up and has been key in improving the Ponies’ serve receive as of late.

It wasn’t a win, but the Ponies still took some positive steps forward. And while they did run out of steam late, it was a decent showing by the Ponies.

“In games one and two, even though it was a long shot,” Skoyen said. “We never gave up and always gave 100 percent. That was great to see. But halfway through game three, the girls did run out of fire, and that is where a lot of our mistakes came. But it was still nice to see no quit though the first games.”

Next up for the Ponies is the Central A divisional tournament Friday and Saturday back in Lewistown.

Lewistown def. Havre

25-15, 25-12, 25-12

Havre Leaders -- Kills: 12 (Aubree Worm 4, Martha Stocker 4). Blocks: 0. Assists: 7 (Ellery Bresler 5). Digs: 28 (Tatiana Ralph 8). Aces: 3 (Worm 2).