Pony spikers look to end losing streak

After a much needed week off from competition, the Havre High volleyball team will look to turn a five-match losing streak around this Saturday. The Ponies will host the top-ranked Lewistown Eagles and the Browning Indians Saturday at the Havre High Gymnasium.

The Ponies have not played a match in nearly two weeks, and the last time Havre was on the court the team dropped its fifth straight match of the season at the hands of a then winless CMR team. That loss leaves the Ponies sitting at 4-3 in Central A Conference play and 7-10 overall.

Havre head coach Lacy Anderson hopes that this late season break has done her team some good.

"This break is just what our team needed," Anderson said. "We gave the girls last Thursday, Friday and Saturday off, and this week we have had a great week of practice. Hopefully, that will translate into a good performance on the court on Saturday."

The break has also allowed Havre to get one of their top players back in the lineup. Sara Suek has not played since she severely injured an ankle on Sept. 28 in Lewistown. Anderson feels that having Suek back on the court will make an impact on her team.

"Not having Sara has been tough for us," Anderson said. "She isn't 100 percent yet, but she is ready to play and having her back is huge."

The Ponies begin their day on Saturday morning with a match against the Browning Indians. Havre has defeated Browning twice this season. The first win came at the Electric City Invitational in Great Falls. The Ponies also knocked off Browning during homecoming weekend as well.

Saturday evening Havre will face Lewistown for the fourth time this year. Havre has yet to beat the Eagles, who are sitting at 15-2 overall on the season, and are undefeated in conference play.

Anderson believes that beating the Eagles would be a huge boost for her troops as the post season draws closer.

"It would be a huge boost of confidence for our team if we can beat them on Saturday," Anderson said. "We have been really focusing on Lewistown all week, but we're not overlooking Browning either."

"The girls have been practicing like champions this week, and I think they are ready to go out and play like it," Anderson added.

Havre High's match with Browning will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Havre High Gymnasium. The match with Lewistown is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.