Havre volleyball sweeps Miles City for homecoming

The Havre High volleyball team has been dominant through the first month of the season en route to an undefeated start. If Saturday afternoon at Havre High Gymnasium was any indication, the Blue Ponies have not slowed down as they defeated Miles City in three sets (25-15, 25-9, 25-16) in their homecoming match.

In their homecoming match, several Ponies played well. Avery Carlson had a strong day as she led the team with 13 kills while also recording 11 digs and a service ace. Kyanna Jarvis also played well with six kills, two service aces and 11 digs against the Cowgirls.

The first set was a competitive affair with the Ponies and Cowgirls going back and forth. Early on, the teams exchanged points to the point they were tied 11-11. But the Ponies turned up the heat as they scored 12 straight points to take a 23-11 lead.

The Cowgirls were able to break up the run, but the Ponies’ lead helped them coast to a 25-15 win for a 1-0 lead in the match. After a slow start to the match, HHS head coach Stephanie Huse liked how her team began to pick things up.

“As we got midway through the first set, the girls were able to find the rhythm and were able to just continue to increase and improve throughout the rest of the match,” Huse said.

The Ponies kept up the pressure as they started the second set on a 9-0 run. The Cowgirls answered with two straight points, but the Ponies kept rolling as they pulled away for the 25-9 victory in the second set.

“We were able to just play our style of volleyball. When we stay true to that, we are very successful,” Huse said about the second set. “Our ball control was really good. We were able to execute a lot of different things in our offense. Our serving was sound. All those things that we try to stay consistent with were happening.”

After the Cowgirls scored the opening point of the third set, the Ponies scored three straight points to take the lead and never looked back. Unlike the previous set, the Cowgirls did not let it get away from them as they came back to cut their deficit to 12-9.

But the Ponies regained control as they went on a 3-0 run to stretch the lead to 15-9. After a 2-0 run by Miles City, the Ponies went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 19-11. The Cowgirls scored three points to cut the deficit to five, but the Ponies ended the set on a 5-2 run to win the set, 25-16, to close out the match for the win.

With the win, the Ponies remain perfect on the season with a 10-0 record and a 7-0 mark in Northeast A competition. The Ponies get a break from regular competition as they will next compete in the Blocktoberfest tournament in Butte this weekend. The Ponies will face some new teams in this tournament, so Huse looks forward to some new adversity before heading into the final couple weeks of the regular season.

“We’re really looking forward to a change of pace of the routine that we’ve been in. Break that up and see some new competition and get challenged by new teams,” Huse said. “We’re making sure that we’re just taking things step by step.”

The HHS volleyball team will begin Blocktoberfest in Butte this Friday before wrapping it up Saturday.

Havre def. Miles City

25-15, 25-9, 25-16

HAV - Aces 6 (Kyanna Jarvis 2, Avery Carlson 1, Yelena Miller 1); Kills 29 (Carlson 13, Jarvis 6, Emilee Chambliss 5); Assists 28 (Molly Huse 27); Blocks 1 (Miller 1); Digs 59 (Lizzi Haney 13, Carlson 11, Jarvis 11).