Blue Ponies open season in Lewistown

After several weeks of preparation, the Havre High volleyball team will begin the season with the tip-off tournament in Lewistown. These will be the first matches for the Blue Ponies under first-year head coach Cassie Krueger, so she is looking forward to seeing how their work these past few weeks will bear fruit this weekend.

"My expectations for the tournament this weekend is to go in with some of our new set-up lineups and test them out and see how well the girls are jiving together now that we've had an extra week of practice," Krueger said.

The Ponies will play their conference opponents in the Northeast A this weekend. That includes teams such as Livingston, Lewistown, Glendive and Sidney. Krueger and the Ponies are also looking forward to playing Billings Central, who they have played in the past two state championship matches.

As the Ponies begin the season, their best players will look to get off to strong starts this season. Returning players that should have a big role this season include Emilee Chambliss, Kyanna Jarvis and Ariana Gary.

Other players such as Amaya Jarvis and Macee May should also get some time on the court this weekend. As the Ponies take to the court for the first time this season, Krueger looks forward to seeing how they look.

"I hope to see them using the fundamentals that we've been coaching for the last couple weeks and really starting to expand on them and become the team that we know that they can be," Krueger said.

The matches this weekend will be the Ponies' first under Krueger, who is taking over a program that has finished second at state the past two seasons. As she leads the Ponies onto the court for the first time, Krueger is looking forward to finally starting the season as the Ponies try to remain a contender.

"I am extremely excited," Krueger said. "I think this team has so much potential and I am excited to start off and start uncovering all of that and working towards mid season."

The HHS volleyball team will begin the tournament in Lewistown Friday morning and it will run through Saturday night.