Blue Pony netters gain Electric City experience

After suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the home opener, the Havre High volleyball team got back in the saddle over the weekend. Only it was another rough ride for the Blue Ponies.

Just one day after falling to Class B Conrad in a five-set marathon at the Havre High gymnasium, the Blue Ponies began play in the toughest preseason volleyball tournament in Montana, the Electric City Classic. The tournament ran Friday and Saturday in Great Falls, where the Blue Ponies went 0-6 between pool play and the consolation bracket.

The Electric City Classic features all of the Class AA schools, as well as Class A power Lewistown. So the tournament is always one of HHS head coach Melanie Skoyen’s favorites, because she says the Ponies always get better from playing top-level competition.

"I love this tournament because you can just see us getting better each day the more that we play," Skoyen said. "There is a big difference from when we get there on the first day to when we are finished playing on Saturday.”

Havre started the tournament Friday, playing the Great Falls High Pool at the Swarthout Field House. In pool play, the Ponies lost to Butte High by scores of 20-17 and 20-7. Later, Havre fell to Helena High 20-9 and 20-17, then split with Missoula Big Sky. Havre won 20-19 and lost 20-11 against the Eagles. The Ponies concluded pool play with a loss to the GFH Bison, by scores of 20-9 and 20-8.

Winning just one set in pool play, Havre moved into the consolation bracket Saturday, which was also played at the Swarthout Fieldhouse.

In the first round of bracket play, the Blue Ponies played some of their best volleyball of the season in a three-set loss to Missoula Sentinel. The Spartans won the first set 26-16, but the Ponies bounced right back to take the second 25-12. In the decisive third set, the Spartans outlasted the Ponies 25-23, but it was still an excellent showing by HHS against a Class AA opponent.

And HHS continued its strong play in its loser-out match. Havre lost to Billings West, but the Ponies fought hard, losing by scores of 25-21 and 25-23. The loss ended HHS’s run in Great Falls, but the Ponies showed Saturday that they can compete at a high level.

As expected, powerhouse Billings Senior captured the Electric City title, beating Helena Capital in the championship match.

Now, the Blue Ponies (0-3) will get set for a big week of Central A Conference matches. Havre returns home to host the Browning Indians on Friday night, then the Ponies travel to face the arch rival Lewistown Golden Eagles Saturday.

Electric City Classic

GFH Pool

Friday

Butte def. Havre 20-17, 20-7

Helena def. Havre 20-9, 20-17

Big Sky def. Havre 19-20, 20-11

Great Falls def. Havre 20-9, 20-8

Consolation Bracket

Saturday

First round: Skyview def. Big Sky 25-22, 25-20; Butte def. CMR 15-25, 25-22, 25-19; Lewistown def. West 25-21, 13-25, 25-23; Sentinel def. Havre 25-16, 12-25, 25-23; Semifinals: Skyview def. Butte 25-10, 25-18; Sentinel def. Lewistown 25-15, 25-22; Loser's bracket: Big Sky def. CMR 23-25, 25-22, 25-20; West def. Havre 25-23, 26-24; Lewistown def. Big Sky 25-21, 25-21; West def. Butte 25-19, 25-16; third place consolation: West def. Lewistown 25-20, 23-25, 25-15; Consolation championship: Skyview def. Sentinel 25-20, 25-22.