ST. PAUL — In an instant classic championship match, the Minneota Vikings win the Class A state championship defeating Mayer Lutheran in five sets 25-23, 25-23 and 20-25, 19-25, and 18-16 on Saturday afternoon.

The Vikings atoned for last year’s straight-sets championship loss to Mayer Lutheran. They have now won three of the last five state championships

In the first set, the Vikings came out with a lot of energy and scored the first 6 points of the match.

Then Mayer Lutheran responded.

Gabby Wachholz led the comeback with multiple kills and the Crusaders punched ahead of the Vikings late in the first set, 18-17. Wachholz finished with 24 kills in the match. The Vikings would then regroup behind a balanced attack from Ireland Stassen and Ella Johnson, closing out a hard-fought set, 25-23.

Both teams in the first set struggled with serving and other unforced errors.

In set two, Minneota scored 11 of the first 13 points, resulting in a Mayer Lutheran timeout. The unforced errors were continuing for the Crusaders in the second set.

However, the Crusaders went on a 15-6 run to again tie up the set at 17 all and appeared to have the Vikings shaken. It was another hard-fought battle with long rallies, but the poise of the Viking stood firm. The Vikings would close out set two by the same score as set one, 25-23.

Down two sets, the Crusaders jumped on the Vikings 11-5, forcing a timeout to be called by Vikings head coach Hayley Fruin. An additional timeout would be called when the Crusaders went up 15-10 in the third set. Although the Vikings would put forth a valiant effort, the Crusaders would win the set 25-20, forcing a fourth set.

In set four, the momentum had clearly swung towards Mayer Lutheran. The Crusaders scored the first seven points of the set, resulting in a Minneota timeout. Both teams would score 7 more points, giving the Crusaders a 14-7 lead in set four and the Vikings taking another timeout. Despite the Vikings cutting the lead to 3 multiple times, the Crusaders wouldn’t let them get any closer. Mayer Lutheran would win set four 25-19, forcing a deciding fifth set.

The fifth set was the most competitive set of the match. The Vikings started out with a 6-3 lead behind the hitting of Elivia Faris.

However, the Crusaders wouldn’t go away quietly.

Mayer Lutheran would tie up the game at 12-all behind Gabby Wachholz. Then the Vikings fought off 3 match points, showing their resiliency all season long. There was a brief stoppage in the fifth set after a ball hit by Faris was ruled to be tipped by the Crusaders, giving the Vikings match point. However, after a brief deliberation, the judges decided no point and play over the serve with the match tied at 16-all.

Moments later, Faris would strike the ball, give her team the lead, and set up match point. The crowd for Minneota erupted and was waiting to see if the championship would be clinched.

The Vikings served the ball, and the Crusaders couldn’t play it giving Minneota the state championship. There were 16 ties and eight lead changes in the match.

“They’re a very talented team on the other side of the net and this match could have went either way,” Fruin said. “Obviously, this was a big goal to get here but we have a tough section and we can’t overlook anyone. This team has played a lot of five-set matches this year This team is mentally tough and we don’t play scared. I think in that moment, it’s an emotional day for us all. You really want to play well in these games and after that loss, I lost some sleep over it because of some decisions that I could have made. I grew as a coach from that loss, and I felt like I was the reason we lost. I just didn’t want to ever leave a game saying to myself I wish I would have. This year I knew we were going to have to make some changes and our kids understood that.”

Fruin also added that Lyzah Sussner doesn’t get the full credit that she deserves. She also mentioned that she puts pressure on Sussner but knows she can handle it and has been one of her many key players this championship season. She also talked in-depth about her three seniors–Stassen, Megan Krog, and Lyssa Kremin–being leaders on the team a d playing a significant role in their championship season. Fruin called Stassen the heartbeat of the team, and Fruin will miss all of her seniors’ contributions to the team’s success.

“I think knowing that at the beginning of the year people talked about us not being very good,” Stassen said. “We worked hard and It is so rewarding knowing that last year hurt us. However, now that we got back here and won it this year makes it even more rewarding.”

Johnson led the team in kills with 22 and teammate Stassen was second on the team with 11 kills. Stassen also led the team in digs (40) and assists (29) in the contest. Lyzah Sussner was second on the team in digs with (29).

Johnson, Sussner, and Stassen were all named to the 2022 Class A All-tournament team.