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JAKE’S TAKE: Vikings join short list of teams to win back-to-back titles

MINNEOTA – The distinction of being the final team standing at the end of the Minnesota high school volleyball season is an achievement that only a select few schools have accomplished in their program’s history. Even fewer have been able to do it twice in a row.

With senior Morgan Hennen’s match-clinching kill in Saturday’s Class A state championship game, Minneota etched its name in the history books by completing that elusive milestone and joined elite company in doing so.

Here’s a look back at two other area volleyball programs who, along with Minneota, are on the short list of 14 teams in state volleyball history to win back to back championships.

Tracy-Milroy

(1994-1996)

When discussing powerhouse programs and stretches of dynasty-level success, failing to include Tracy-Milroy would be inexcusable.

The Panthers’ unparalleled stretch of dominance began in 1990 when Terry Culhane, prior taking over as the head coach of Marshall and Southwest Minnesota State volleyball programs, guided the Panthers to their first-ever state championship in a victory over Win-E-Mac, McIntosh in five sets.

Tracy-Milroy went on to return to the championship game in 1992 where they captured a second state title before going on to earn three-straight championship wins between 1994-1996 with triumphs over Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (1994), Stewartville (1995) and Win-E-Mac McIntosh (1996).

With the three-peat, Tracy-Milroy became the first to reach the milestone since Robbinsdale Armstrong opened up the 1980’s with five-straight titles. Only two teams have been able to win three-straight titles since: Shakopee from 2007 to 2009, and another area team with plenty of history and success to its name.

Marshall

(2011-2013)

Ever since its first appearance in the state championship game in 1979, the Tiger volleyball program has been a model of success in Minnesota high school volleyball. However, it took a couple of decades and a pair of title game losses in 1992 to Apple Valley, and in 2002 to Robbinsdale Armstrong, before Marshall’s championship dreams were finally realized.

The program’s fortunes changed when current Tiger head coach Dan Westby took over in 2004 and led the team to its first state title in a four-set win over Lakeville in the Class AAA championship. The Tigers would return to the Class AAA title game again in 2005, but fell to Chaska in five sets.

In 2007, the Tigers reached the title game again, this time at the AA level, where they defeated St. Cloud Cathedral in five sets. Over the course of the next seven seasons, Marshall made its way back to the championship game six times, winning three-straight Class AA crowns between 2011-2013 before dropping a five-set match against Stewartville in 2014 that eliminated the possibility of a four-peat.

Between 2011 and 2013, the Tigers had four players named to the All-State 1st Team, including: Kenzie Beekman (2011, 2012), Morgan McKittrick (2011), Sydney Griffin (2012, 2013) and Hannah Bennett (2013).

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