Pony spikers gearing up for prestigious Electric City Classic

Before the Havre High volleyball team gets into the heart of its schedule this season, it has one more tournament to play and that will take place this weekend, at the Electric City Classic in Great Falls.

The Blue Ponies, who have already played in two tournaments so far this season in the Eastern A Tip-Off in Havre and the Windy City Classic last weekend in Livingston, will face a field that is filled mostly with Class AA teams. The action gets underway Friday and continues through Saturday.

"We are looking to a positive weekend," HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis said. "We played well last Saturday in Livingston and we are hoping that can carry over to this weekend. That just showed the potential that we have when we do play together."

The Ponies went 1-1 last Friday in a Central A doubleheader in Belgrade, losing a match to Belgrade but winning one over Livingston. After that, Havre made it to the championship match of the Windy City Classic last Saturday, only to lose to Huntley Project. Yet, it will still a step forward for a Pony squad that will face some stiff competition Friday, with matches against CMR, Billings West, Helena High and Missoula Hellgate to open group play for HHS.

"We need to have fun out there," Jarvis said. "No matter what happens out there, we can't get down on ourselves. If another team makes a run on us, we have to fight back. We need to make sure that we are playing our game and we are doing what we are supposed to do. We have to make sure we are always playing at our level."

So far, the Ponies have played just two regulation matches, however, they have gotten some consistent performances from Cassidy Acor, Sam Oliver, Jessa Chvilicek and Peyton Brown. Acor led Havre in kills in its win over Livingston and Chvilicek trailed close behind. Those two have been the most productive front-row players for Havre, both on offense and defense. Chvilicek has also been among the team leader in blocks and aces.

"Cassidy and Jessa both really stepped up in the middle for us," Jarvis said. "So that has been good to see. But we need to do a lot better job with our defense this week, both with our middle blockers and our serve-receive."

Oliver has proven to be a versatile player for HHS again this season and is among the team leaders in both digs and assists. Fellow junior Peyton Brown is in a similar position and is also one of the Ponies' top passers and defensive specialists. Other contributors for the Ponies will be Caitlyn Terry, Sydney Wilting, Kadyn Acor, Devyn Huebsch, Katelyn Maloughney and Savannah Dawson.

Havre will play four matches in group play Friday and who they play Saturday will be based off those results. The Ponies will be back in action Sept. 15, on the road, against Conrad and then, Sept. 20, they will return for their first home regulation match of the season against Browning at the HHS gymnasium.