HHS spikers home to face Cowgirls

After defeating the Conrad Cowgirls last week on the road, the Havre High volleyball team will now host the Cowgirls in should be again, a winnable match for the Blue Ponies.

After defeating the Class B Cowgirls last weekend, the Central A Ponies are now 4-6 overall. HHS defeated Conrad in four games on the road, and should also be favored to win again on Saturday evening at the Havre gymnasium. The varsity match

Havre High's Lacey Waid (right) goes for a kill during a high school volleyball match last month against CMR. The Blue Ponies play at home Saturday night against the Conrad Cowgirls.

will follow the freshmen and junior varsity matches, tentatively starting around 4:30 or 5 p.m.

And while the Ponies are favored to grab their second straight victory, they know the Cowgirls can be dangerous.

"They are probably the best I have seen them since I have been here," Havre High head coach Melanie Skoyen said. "They definitely made us earn our points last time, and they never rolled over and died. I don't even think the scores justified how well they played, it was just a lot of their mistakes and errors they were making that really helped cause them to lose."

Mistakes and costly errors are something the Ponies are familiar with this season. They have given away some matches and sets this season, but continue to work towards more consistent play. And if HHS could grab consecutive wins, it could do a lot of the program as they continue to build towards the post season.

In their wins so far this season, the Ponies have showed great ability to execute on defense and in their serve receive. But to truly get a roll, the Ponies can still do more.

"We have to be able to pass the ball well before we can do anything else," Skoyen said.

Adding a solid passing attack could be huge for the Blue Ponies, especially since they are now very comfortable in their lineup and rotation.

The Ponies mixed things up again the last they faced Conrad, and seemed to have found something they can work with. With Lexi Olson still fighting to get from an ankle injury, Aubrea Worm has stepped up nicely from the junior varsity to help hold down the hitting on the left side. Lacey Waid has moved back to the right side to hit, and looked to be back in her hard-hitting form last week. Worm has fit in very well, accenting the hitting of Sadie Seidel on the left side.

"We now have a good lineup," Skoyen said. "And I like the rotation we are running. It seems to be working well for us, and Lexi Olsen will even hopefully get to see a little court time this week.

"(Worm) is fitting in well with this group," Skoyen added. "And is doing a great job playing. I am proud of how she stepped up for us."

The Ponies will look to utilize this now rotation against the Cowgirls this time around as well. And hopefully it will help lead the Ponies to another win over a solid Class B program.

Conrad does have solid talent, including Taylor Judisch who recorded 12 kills her last time out against he Ponies, as well as Krista Judisch, who recorded three blocks. Morgan VanDyke will also play a role, while the team also recorded 102 digs against the Ponies last week.

HHS will look to grab the win by not allowing any major runs. With a team like Conrad, they are too scrappy and never let up, making them extremely dangerous if the Ponies let them stick around. HHS will look to jump out to a solid lead, and not hurt themselves with errors. If they can do that, they should be able to put the Cowgirls away with relative ease.

The varsity match between Havre and Conrad should get started around 4:30 or 5 p.m., following the freshmen and junior varsity matches at the Havre High gymnasium in Havre Saturday night.