HHS spikers hit the stretch run with a trip to Browning

With the Havre High volleyball team getting close to the stretch run of its regular season, the Blue Ponies will play just one match this week, as they head to Browning tonight before getting a much-deserved weekend off.

The Ponies, who are in the midst of a two-match win streak, following wins over Cut Bank and Conrad, will look for its second three-match streak of the season with a win tonight in Browning over the Indians.

"We played pretty well (last weekend)," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "I thought we had a lot more energy. We got some other girls involved and tried to get more people involved hitting the ball, and I thought that helped us."

Havre and Browning, the former Central A conference rivals, will do battle for the second time this season. The Indians, who are led by former Havre High head volleyball coach Bill Huebsch, are improving and they remain the only Class A team Havre has defeated this season.

While the Ponies swept the match earlier this season, the Indians were competitive for at least two of the sets, losing the second game 25-20 and the third 25-15 after a late run by HHS.

"It was fun to play Havre," Huebsch said after the first meeting. "Hopefully, when we play again, we can be a little more competitive."

Camryn Huston, who has been a driving force for the Ponies all season along, was key in that first match between Havre and Browning, as she had nine kills. Sam Oliver also played a key role with 20 assists and nine digs. Huston has also been the Ponies top hitter all season long. She leads the team with 111 kills, which also ranks her eighth in the Central A conference. The senior also ranks fifth in the conference with 21 blocks.

Another important player for the Ponies up front has been Jessa Chvilicek, who has 19.5 blocks. She has also been another solid contributor around the net, along with Emilee Cariveau, who is among the team leaders in blocks as well.

Oliver, who leads the Ponies in assists has also been deadly when serving. She boasts a team-high 50 aces, which not only leads Havre, but the entire Central A as well. Teammate Katie Donaldson is right behind her with 41. Logan Huebsch is also fourth in the conference with 37, while Alex Donaldson is also among the conference leaders with 36.

Much will be the same for the two teams, but one big change for Havre since the first meeting, has been an adjustment in the team's rotation. Jarvis is rotating more players and giving both Oliver and Peyton Brown a chance to set.

"So far it has been working for us," Jarvis said of the change. "So we are going to keep using it. I just think it is giving up some different options and gives us a boost because we are getting some different people in and out of the lineup."

The Ponies and Indians will renew their old conference rivalry tonight in Browning. The first set will take place at approximately 7 p.m.