Pony spikers face tough competition

It will be another busy weekend for the Havre Blue Pony volleyball team as they travel to Great Falls today to participate in the prestigious Electric City Invitational Volleyball tournament.

The Ponies began pool play this morning at 10:45 a.m. at Great Falls High's Bison Fieldhouse versus the Class AA Missoula Big Sky Eagles. That contest is the first of seven matches that Havre head coach Lacy Anderson's troops will play on what she calls a very testing day.

"It is going to be exhausting for our team to play that many matches in a day," Anderson said. "But they have had a great week of practice and I think they are very prepared and ready to play."

After the Ponies face the Eagles, they will then play Bozeman at 12:15 p.m., followed by Missoula Sentinel at 1:45, Billings Senior at 4:15, Helena High at 5, Lewistown at 7:15 and host Great Falls High at 8.

The Ponies, along with Lewistown and Browning, are the only Class A teams in the tournament, but Anderson is looking forward to the tough competition that the AA schools present.

"Not to take anything away from the other Class A schools, but it is always good to step up and play the AA teams," Anderson said. "They are all very tough and it can only make us better by playing those teams."

Friday is reserved for pool play and the teams with the best records coming out of each pool will then advance into the championship round. Teams that don't make the championship round will play in a consolation tournament also on Saturday. The other pool is being played at CMR High School.

Last season the Ponies placed in the consolation round last year. Anderson says she would like to see her team get to the championship round this season.

"I would like to see us play well enough to get into the championship bracket but with the teams we'll be facing it will be tough," Anderson said. "But the girls are ready and I know their going to play well this weekend."

One of the teams Anderson is really looking forward to playing today is Lewistown. The Ponies lost to the Eagles last Saturday night in Browning and Anderson said her team is anxious to get back on the court with them again.

"The girls are really looking forward to a rematch with them." Anderson said. "They're a good team and they beat us in a close match in Browning so I am glad we're getting another chance to play them right away."

As of press time, the Ponies are 2-0 in conference play and 3-2 overall on the young season.