Photo by Sam Thiel The 2019 Minneota Vikings volleyball team includes front row (L to R): Ireland Stassen, Ellie Pesch, McKenzie Tolk, Madison Sorensen, Reese Gillund and Lyzah Sussner. Back Row (L to R): Kaitlyn Hanson, Aleksa Sanow, Morgan Hennen, Abby Rost, Abby Hennen, Natalee Rolbiecki, McKenna Yost, Abby Frie, Emily Rybinski and Olivia Mahan-Deitte.

MINNEOTA – After coming up just short in 2017 at the state tournament, the Minneota volleyball team made sure to change that narrative in 2018, as they never wavered all season en route to winning the Class A championship and their first since 2006.

Despite losing a strong senior class that included Morgan Kockelman, Lydia Sussner, Lizzy Gillingham, Sydney Larson and Brooklyn Nelson, the Vikings will have plenty of returners under third-year head coach Hayley Fruin.

“After winning state last year and losing a great group of seniors, we still look to have a great season. I am hoping we can build off of our momentum from last year – I know these kids have high expectations of themselves this year and they will do everything they can to reach them,” Fruin said. “They’re a great group of kids; they’re natural athletes and they work hard, you don’t always get both sides.”

Minneota will have lots of experience coming back to the floor this season, led by Abby and Morgan Hennen and Natalee Rolbiecki.

“We will be very balanced in the front row this year; I really think all of our hitters will play a key part to our offense. We have 6 solid hitters that can all put the ball away. We are returning some key starters – our libero, Abby Hennen, is going to take on a new position. We really look for her to lead us in the front row,” Fruin said. “We also have Natalee Rolbiecki and Morgan Hennen that had a great season last year- especially a state tournament and they haven’t slowed down. They looked great at the end of July at a few tournaments we were involved in.”

As with any other team, replacing a senior class can come with its challenges. But Fruin said young players such as Abby Frie, Abby Rost, McKenna Yost and Ireland Stassen will be called upon to step up and take on new responsibilities.

“We have two young talented setters. We lost Morgan Kockelman who did so much for this team – she was a great defender, consistent, and a great leader. Our two setters, McKenna Yost and Ireland Stassen I look to really lead this team, but I know it may take some time for them to get comfortable with our hitters. We have two new middles and it can be tough to find a rhythm and figure out the timing of one another, but we played a lot of volleyball at the end of the summer and things were really starting to come together. I really look for McKenna and Ireland to step up and lead this offense,” Fruin said. “We also lost some key front row players – two middles in Sydney Larson and Lydia Sussner and an outside in Lizzy Gillingham. These were all key players to our state championship last year. We have some players that really have stepped up their level of play from last season though – Abby Frie and Abby Rost have really improved and I look for them to have a success season.”

Going into the season, Fruin said their expectations are high and feels like everyone is taking on their roles with lots of energy and are committed to achieving their goals.

“We’ve set our goals high – I have no doubt these kids can achieve them. If everyone stays healthy and stays committed they’re possible to reach,” Fruin said. “For our team being so young, you would never know it watching us. Everyone has accepted their role and everyone is a leader. It’s going to be a fun season.”

Minneota opened its season last weekend against Medford, with the Vikings defeating the Tigers 3-0. They will face Wabasso tonight at 7:15 p.m.