Pony spikers finish 3-2 at Browning Extravaganza

It was a good start to the season in many ways for the Havre high volleyball team this weekend as they finished, 3-2 overall, at the Volleyball Extravaganza in Browning.

"Overall, I thought our team played really well all weekend," said head coach Lacy Anderson. "I see some minor things we need to work on, but all in all, I am really pleased with the way we played throughout the weekend."

The Ponies opened the conference season on Friday night by defeating Belgrade 25-13, 25-15 and 25-11. Jeanna McPherson led the way for the Ponies with 10 kills and three stuff blocks and Crystal Pyrak added fifteen assists. In the second contest of the evening the Ponies downed Butte Central in five games. The scores were 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 18-25, and 15-12. Alicia Overcast led the way with 13 kills and Sara Suek and Brittany Vandersloot combined for 26 digs.

"I thought we played pretty well against Belgrade, and Butte Central was a really scrappy team and they answered everything we did but the girls managed to pull it out," Anderson said.

The Ponies began Saturday morning as the number one seed in their pool and won all three morning matches against Anaconda, Butte Central and Belgrade.

They opened the Extravaganza tournament Saturday afternoon by defeating Livingston 25-12 and 25-23. But then fell to Lewistown 25-21 and 25-14. The Ponies were then eliminated from tournament play by Anaconda in what Anderson calls a heartbreaker. The scores read 25-18, 18-25 and 13-15.

"We just couldn't finish that match," Anderson said. "We had the lead 12-7 and we stayed stuck on twelve forever it seemed like. But our girls absolutely played their hearts out and they gave great effort all weekend."

Anderson also said that her team may have run out of a gas a little at the end of the tournament.

"Things got really behind Friday night and we didn't get to bed until 2 a.m. and back to the tournament the next morning at five a.m., and I could see the girls were getting real tired against Anaconda," Anderson said. "But again they showed me right from the start that they were prepared to play and I can't say enough about their heart and their effort."

Next up for the Ponies will travel to Great Falls for the Electric City Classic on Friday and Saturday.