Sweep: Ponies take care of Browning

With just one conference match this weekend, it was a relatively easy and light load for the Havre High volleyball team.

Saturday the Central A Blue Ponies were at home and defeated the visiting Browning Indians at the Havre High gymnasium. The Ponies earned the win in three relatively easy games by scores of 25-15, 25-6 and 25-17.

The Ponies faced the Indians last weekend in Browning and saw a very tough, scrappy and energetic Indians team. But this weekend things were different as the Ponies rolled to a win in three games instead in four.

"This wasn't the same team we played in Browning," Havre High head coach Melanie Skoyen said. "It was intense the last time we played them, and today they just didn't play well, they didn't play like themselves."

Havre High's Lexi Olson (left) goes for a smash during a Central A Conference volleyball match between Havre and Browning Saturday night at the HHS gymnasium. The Ponies swept the Indians in three games and are now in second place in the Central A standings. Havre hosts Lewistown this Friday and then will host the Central A Divisonal Nov. 4-5.

But the Ponies did play well.

Despite the underachieving Indians, the Ponies stepped up and took care of business in all aspects of the game. They came out and not only took care of business in three games, they did so with solid serving, passing hitting and defense. HHS had 36 kills, two blocks, 15 aces, 16 digs and 30 assists.

Sarah Armstrong earned 11 kills to lead the Ponies and Lexi Olson had seven. Sadie Seidel, Peyton Filius and Sammy Evans all had four aces each. Evans also grabbed six digs, while Filius had 29 assists.

With how talented the Indians can be, Skoyen was happy to see her squad not let the Indians stay in contention. Browning did lead game three 4-0 early, but the Ponies quickly regained their composure and turned the early deficit into a win.

"You are always a little bit worried when you play good teams," Skoyen said. "Even though you can dominate the first two games there is always that chance they push the match to four or five. I was glad to see the girls keep control and play at our level the majority of the match."

The Ponies improved to 3-2 in the conference and 5-9 overall and remain competitive in the Central A. Belgrade earned a loss this weekend and now the Ponies sit in the No. 2 spot in the conference.

The Ponies host Lewistown on Friday night in their final home match of the regular season.

Havre def. Browning

25-15, 25-6, 25-17

Browning – Kills: 7 (Lindsey Wagner 3). Blocks: 7 (Marti Eagle Feathers 5). Aces: 2 (Brooke Carlson, Shelsey St. Goddard). Digs: 23 (Marti Eagle Feathers 6). Assists: 5 (Shelsey St. Goddard 6).

Havre – Kills: 36 (Sarah Armstrong 11, Lexi Olson 7). Blocks: 2 (Sarah Armstrong 1, Sadie Seidel 1). Aces: 15 (Sadie Seidel 4, Peyton FIlius 4, Sammy Evans 4). Digs: 16 (Sammy Evans 6). Assists: 30 (Peyton Filius 29).