Hennen collects 1,000th assist in Minneota sweep over Lakeview
‘A deserving moment.”
MINNEOTA — Nevaeh Hennen earned her 1,000th career set assist on Thursday night as the No. 5 Minneota volleyball team swept the Lakeview Lakers in three sets of 25-9, 25-16 and 25-20. She earned the milestone in the first set and finished the night with a team-high 17.
“This means a lot,” Hennen, who did not know she was on the brink of the accomplishment, said. “I love volleyball. It’s my favorite sport, so this is just really cool.”
Minneota continued to show why it’s ranked among Class A’s top teams, snagging its fourth consecutive win and 14th overall. Earlier this season, it lost as many as four in a row and has dropped two of its four matches against ranked opponents since Sept. 21.
“The biggest thing tonight was, we’ve got to come in with some energy and some intensity each and every single day to play our style and our level of play,” Minneota head coach Hayley Fruin said. “I think there were times that we just lacked our energy … They [Lakeview] outhustled us at times and they had more energy, and that shows.”
Lakeview has also seen success this season. Four of its six wins have come in sweeps, and senior setter Aubreigh Rausch collected her 1,000th career set assist earlier this season. Otherwise, the Lakers continue to find their stride with consistency.
“They [Minneota] are state champions … I think that going into the night, they [Lakeview] really needed to compete and actually show how hard they’ve been working in practice,” Lakeview head coach Alexis Lienemann said. “Service receive is definitely one of our weaker areas, so we’re going to have more of that in practice tomorrow to kind of figure that out … I think there was just a lack of confidence tonight.”
Minneota controlled the court from the start and didn’t let up until Lakeview applied offensive and defensive pressure in the third set.
Kiara Hinz led Lakeview with five kills on the night, followed by Taylor hinz with four and Aubrey Nething with three. Defensively, Jersey Stensrud tallied nine digs, while Rausch and Teegan Fiene logged seven more respectively.
The Vikings jumped to a quick 8-0 lead in the first set, following a few Lakeview errors and a kill from Eden Meagher. Minneota extended its lead to 17-4, continuing to shut out the Lakers who had a troubling start in finding a response, and took the first set.
Meagher had a team-high 11 kills, followed by Jaylyn Coequyt with seven and Sarah Gruenes with five.
Hennen notched her 1,000th set assist and was celebrated by her team and supporters following the set, as the gym filled with signs honoring her achievement.
“It’s always great to see any kid reach a milestone, but it’s extra special when they have no idea that they’re even near it. They do not ask about the stats,” Fruin said. “A deserving moment. This kid [Hennen] stays after, this kid plays on the weekends … [She is] one of our top leaders out there, and kids definitely look up to her. She just does a great job leading our offense.”
Hennen is also one of two senior’s on the roster this season, alongside her fellow captain Elivia Faris.
“I love being one of the two seniors on the team,” Hennen said. “It’s so fun having these little girls, since our team is so young, and it’s so fun to just make new friends.”
Lakeview did everything it could to bring the fight back in set two, cutting a 10-3 deficit to 23-16. But the Vikings didn’t allow them to gather more points and grabbed its final two, and one set closer to a sweep and their fourth straight.
“I thought we did a great job serving,” Fruin said. “Yes, we did miss more than we would have liked, but that does happen sometimes when you’re being aggressive behind the service line.”
Madison Minnehan had five aces for Minneota, and Abby Rolbiecki added another three while Autum Anderson tallied another pair. Rolbiecki also led with 11 digs followed by Hennen and Meagher with nine apiece.
Set three got competitive and the Lakeview bench was loud as it began the set tied at 6-6, trying to force a fourth. Both teams answered point for point and Lakeview stayed in it, trailing 23-19 late in the set.
Minneota although was able to finish the night behind front row blocking from Meagher, Gruenes and the Coequyt sisters, and a few out of bounds possessions on Lakeview’s part.
Leah Coequyt had two blocks on the night, while Jaylyn had another. Grunes and Meagher each had one as well.
“Shot selection and being a smarter hitter definitely works in our benefit, and then our energy and how hard the girls are willing to push for each other is another thing,” Lienemann said in regard to increasing their competitiveness toward the end. “We’re trying all season long to play selflessly, rather than playing for an individual and playing for the team. I think our passing somewhat got better, but then we trailed.”
Lienemann is now more than two-thirds of the way into her first year leading the varsity program, after previously coaching junior varsity and playing for the team during her high school days.
“I really love coaching the girls. I really love being around them and providing them life lessons, and also enjoying a sport that I love to do,” Lienemann said. “I’m here along the ride with them. If we win together, I’m winning with them. If we lose together, I’m losing with them.”
Minneota, the 2023 Section 3A runners-up to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, has goals to make another deep postseason run. It first has its eyes on finishing the last four regular season games on a high note, the next three of which are on the road.
“Our section is tougher than it’s ever been this year. At any given night, everybody’s going five [sets] it seems like right now,” Fruin said. “We just need to make sure that we are, as coaches, preparing our kids each and every night, and trying to make them better every single day … It’s not going to get easier.”
Minneota, 14-6, will next travel and take on Rocori on Monday at 6:30 p.m., while Lakeview, 6-10, will participate in a weekend tournament at the R/A facility at Southwest Minnesota State University. They will first play Friday against Pipestone Area at 5:45 p.m., and will return home to host Renville County West on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“I think that the girls acknowledge how much they can compete … Against these bigger schools, they can compete,” Lienemann said. “We really have to go at every game expecting that we can at least win a set or two, and show that we are intimidating as well.”