BACK IN BOZEMAN

Eight really good Class A volleyball teams are all that remain in the 2019 season. And one of those teams is the Havre Blue Ponies.

Now, after missing out on the state tournament the last five years, the Blue Ponies return to the annual volleyball extravaganza, where they'll begin tournament play against Western A champion Corvallis Thursday afternoon in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

And HHS head coach Tamecia Jarvis is excited to play a top competitor in the Blue Devils.

"It's exciting to go," said Jarvis. "It's going to be fun for the girls and it's going to be a good experience for our younger girls."

Corvallis has been a consistent contestant in the state tournament for quite some time. The Blue Devils have played into state's last day for the last two years and have claimed third-place each time. The team is hungry for more this year and they have been electric.

Isabel Evans, Corvallis' six-foot middle blocker, has been a reliable blocker for the Blue Devils this year and has 35 total blocks. On top of that, her height is a nice boon that has helped Corvallis, too.

Senior libero, Casey Fison, has been another key asset to the Blue Devils' defensive. Fison leads the squad with 140 digs. Sophomore Madeline Gilder is a big offensive weapon for Corvallis and leads the team with 143 kills. In tandem with Gilder is setter Hannah Martin, who has put up 39 kills on 86 attempts.

With a major balance between the offensive and defensive game plan, it is no shock that the Blue Devils' have a 16-1 record. They are dominant, no question, and will surely be one of the favorites in the tournament.

Jarvis has a plan for the match against the powerhouse from the West.

"Whoop butt," said Jarvis. "But, I also think we need to work on our game right now and focus on their stuff later."

When it comes to the Blue Ponies, there is a lot of exciting players on the squad. Libero Sydney Wilting has been a consistent player when it comes to the defensive scheme. There are many times where Wilting has made a nice save on a attack and has gotten right back up for some more. Against Laurel in the divisional tournament, Wilting had 19 digs, and against Hardin in the next game, Wilting racked up 20 digs.

Being able to play in Bozeman is important to Wilting

"It means a lot," said Wilting. "I get to go be with my favorite girls on the court and kick butt."

Senior Sam Oliver has done a great deal for the team, as well. Against Lewistown, Hardin (rematch) and Laurel last week in the Eastern A, Oliver put up 11 kills and 60 digs, cementing her usefulness in both offense and defense for Havre. On top of that, Oliver is a very determined athlete, who is always ready to step onto the court to go to work.

Plus, Oliver is thrilled to be in the state tournament and is ready to enjoy the experience.

"Considering Havre hasn't gone in the last five years, I'm excited to go show them what we can do," Oliver said, "as well as what Havre is capable of."

Another standout member of the Blue Ponies is senior Cassidy Acor, who has been an offensive powerhouse on the squad. In the divisional tournament, Acor won three sets for Havre, two off of kills and one off of a block. In the matches against Laurel and Hardin (rematch), Acor put up 24 kills and six blocks in total.

And Acor is happy to get to play in the state tournament.

"I'm really excited," said Acor. "We worked really hard for it. I feel like we're just going to go out and play our best and have fun."

The Ponies are the underdogs in their first match against Corvallis, but what better motivation than to have aims to topple the top-dog from the West. It will be a hard-fought battle and Havre will look to make the most of the match. After all, HHS has made it back to state after some time, so giving it all they have can make a difference.

As for the rest of the field, the Class A tourney should be a barn burner.

The top four teams from the Eastern and Western divisions battled through a tough divisional tournament to make it to state. From the West, Corvallis (No. 1), Columbia Falls (No. 2), Butte Central (No. 3) and Polson (No. 4) are in, while from the East side, two-time defending champs Billings Central (No. 1), Glendive (No. 2), Hardin (No. 3) and the Ponies, who are the No. 4 seed, make up the rest of the field.

The tournament begins with Billings Central facing Polson Thursday at 10 a.m., followed by Columbia Falls and Hardin at noon. The winner's of those two matches will meet in one quarterfinal Thursday night. On the other side of the bracket, Glendive faces Butte Central at 2 p.m. and the winner of that match will face either Corvallis or Havre in the second quarterfinal Thursday night.

The state tourney will run through Saturday, and conclude with the Class A title match at noon.

The Blue Ponies (13-3) open against the Corvallis Blue Devils (16-1) in the first round of the Class A State tournament Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.