HHS spikers beginning a new quest

The Havre High volleyball team has been stuck in a rut the past few seasons. After making numerous trips to the Class A state tournament in the 2000s, The Ponies have failed to make the state tournament in each of the last four seasons, but with a bevy of young talent and the start of a new season, there is optimism that they can reclaim their status as a force to be reckoned with in Class A volleyball.

The 2013 campaign was one the Ponies would like to forget as the team finished 2-3 in Central A Divisional play, on their way to a 5-12 overall record. Havre did end up finishing third at the Cenntral A Divisional tournament, but only the top two teams go to state, leaving Havre out as Belgrade and Lewistown represented the Central A in the state tournament.

"'We have a few returning players coming back from last season, and we will have a lot of girls that didn't play varsity last year but we have some talented girls, and so far I think they have been doing a great job," HHS head coach Melanie Skoyen said. "There are still things that we need to fine tune, but I really like what I am seeing. We have been able to start our quick offense and shoot sets, we are running more quick offense than we normally do at this point in the season but they are mature enough and experienced enough as a group that they can handle it."

Whatever the Ponies lack in varsity experience they make up for with talent. One of the key players returning for this season is junior Dani Wagner, who is utilized as both a setter and outside hitter. Jordyn Warren is also one of two seniors on the team and she will lead the way as a defensive specialist

Other players that will contribute in a big way for the Ponies this season are Reggie Bernard, a junior, who plays in the middle, sophomore Naomi Terry, who plays the right side and junior Megan Erickson, who is one of the top hitters on the roster along with Wagner.

Junior Madison Huebsch, senior Carlene Rennick and sophomore Sammy Huston round of the remainder of the HHS varsity roster.

"I can definitely see these girls doing some great things this season," Skoyen said. "It's always hard to judge because I don't have anything to compare them to. We always look good in practice and then when we go up against some competition it brings us back a little bit but, right now, everything seems to be flowing really well and this team has a lot of talent."

Of course, if the Ponies want to make some noise in the Central A this season they will need to stand up to the likes of Lewistown and Belgrade, which have become perennial powers in the league and it won't take long for HHS to see how it stacks up.

Havre will take its traditional trip to the Windy City Classic which is Saturday in Livingston, but before that the Ponies will take part in two key Central A matchups as they will face both Belgrade and Livingston on Friday in Belgrade.

Even though these matches are early in the season, they are two of just eight conference games the Ponies will play this season, so getting at least a split will be key for HHS as it tries to put itself in a good positon for the divisional tournament.

Skoyen, who has yet to lead the Ponies to the state tournament as she enters her fifth season as head coach, is hoping to take that next step this season and get Havre back to state.

"The last few years we have finished in the top three at divisionals, we just haven't been able to get to state," Skoyen said. "We are usually pretty even with Park but Belgrade and Lewistown continually produce very good teams but with this group I think we can give them a run for their money. This year we really need to go into every match thinking that we can win and be successful against any team we play."

"I have really liked what I have seen from this team so far," she added. "Everyone has really good attitudes and they are all working so hard that I feel very good about where we are at right now and I am expecting some great things this season."

After travelling to face Belgrade and Livingston this weekend, then playing in the Windy City Classic, tthe Ponies will return to the HHS gymnasium for their home-opener against Conrad on Sept.11.