CHAMPS AGAIN!

Minneota staved off three championship points and avenged a loss to Mayer Lutheran in last year’s state title match, topping the Crusaders in a five-set marathon Saturday, 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 19-24, 18-16 at Xcel Energy Center.
The Vikings finished the season 34-5 and gave coach Hayley Fruin her 199th career victory in just six seasons at the helm, including four state titles and a state runner-up.
“This team is the true definition of what never giving up looks like,” said Fruin. “Although we went from being up two sets to zero, to being tested on match point multiple times in set five, they still never gave up.”
The Vikings knew they were going to be in for a dogfight after losing to Mayer Lutheran in last year’s state title match. Both programs have now won four state titles.
“Prior to the match, we talked a lot about playing disciplined and smart volleyball against Mayer,” said Fruin. “Obviously, we were very outsized and we had to each know what we could and couldn’t do against them. The girls knew it was going to take all of us to beat them and I think that is what was so special about this match. We played together and stayed together from start to finish.”
Ella Johnson managed 22 kills for the Vikings. Ireland Stassen had 11 kills, 40 digs, 29 assists, three blocks and two aces. Megan Krog and Emma Bottelberghe had six kills each and Elivia Faris five. Lyzah Sussner notched 29 digs and nine assists. Grace Hennen had 11 digs and Nevaeh Hennen dished out 10 assistsGabby Wachholz had a match-high 24 kills for Mayer Lutheran. Madeline Guetzkow added 14 kills and Marley Martin had 12.
Minneota started out strong, bolting to leads of 5-0 and 14-7 in the first set before allowing the Crusaders to rally back to take a 23-22 lead. The Vikings steadied the ship and reeled off three straight points to take the set on a kill by Bottelberghe, a block by Stassen, and a Mayer Lutheran attack error.
The second set went much the same. Minneota again started out like gangbusters, leading 11-2 before Mayer came back to tie, 17-17. From there, the Vikings maintained a slight lead until a kill by Stassen gave Minneota a two-set lead.
“We started out with everything going our way in those first two sets,” said Stassen. “Then we got a little comfortable and we lost the third set, but we still were thinking we were okay. Then we lost another set and we had to have that last one.”
Mayer did come back to take the next two sets and force a fifth and deciding set.
“Being up 2-0 to a very talented Mayer Lutheran team, you know it isn’t over,” Fruin said. “We were way up in set two and Mayer had a really nice comeback at the end of the set. Although we won, it did feel as though they had a lot of momentum from the ending of the second set and they capitalized on it to start the third set.”
Stassen, one of only three seniors on the team, was not about to let this one slip away as the team last year.
“It was such an incredible match and everyone was tired,” she said. “But I kept telling the others that we have come too far this season and we need to take this.”
The teams went back and forth in the fifth set like two prize fighters exchanging punches. The set was tied nine times at 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Mayer Lutheran was one point from winning after an ace block by Marley Martin gave them a 14-13 lead. The Crusaders then had an attack error to make it 14-14.
After an ace block by Madeline Guetzkow, the Crusaders had their second match/championship point at 15-14. A kill by Elivia Faris tied the set again for the Vikings.
Guetzkow’s kill gave Mayer a 16-15 lead before a service error, one of 11 the Crusaders had in the match, gave a free point to the Vikings.
“We knew we were one point away from losing each of those times,” Stassen said. “We just had to go for everything and not let anything drop.”
After a replay of a point that was initially given to Minneota, the Vikings grabbed a 17-16 lead on a kill by Faris. The championship point came on a Mayer Lutheran attack that landed harmlessly out of bounds.
The Minneota players mobbed one another in a pile next to the net as the reserves raced out to join them.
“I promised before the match that if we win, I would celebrate but I wouldn’t cry,” Stassen admitted. “But when I was lying on the court, I put my hands on my head and cried. We finished first over 182 other teams. At the beginning of the year, I knew we had our work cut out for is to get back to state. We couldn’t think about what the teams had done in the past. We can only focus on what we can accomplish. And that’s why I got so emotional.”
Because of the youth of this team, few believed it was capable of a return trip to state, let alone another place in the championship.
“I have said this before, but this team has to win the most improved team of the year,” Fruin said. “I look at where we were this summer to November and the amount of growth as individuals and as a team not only in our game, but also mentally has been so fun to witness. They peaked at the right time and mid-October were able to gain the confidence they needed.”

Minneota 3, Mayer Lutheran 2
Mayer Lutheran....................................................23 23 25 25 16
Minneota...............................................................25 25 20 19 18

MINNEOTA STATISTICS
Serving (good-attempts-aces): Lyzah Sussner 16-16-0, Emma Bottelberghe 8-8-1, Ireland Stassen 14-14-2, Dakoda Hennen 15-15-1, Ella Johnson 15-16-1, Abby Rolbiecki 12-13-0, Grace Hennen 23-24-1

Setting (assists): Ireland Stassen 29, Nevaeh Hennen 10, Lyzah Sussner 9, Bottelberghe 1, Dakoda Hennen 1, Grace Hennen 1

Attacks (good-attempts-kills): Megan Krog 13-18-6, Emma Bottelberghe 30-32-6, Ireland Stassen 48-50-11, Ella Johnson 60-67-22, Elivia Faris 17-22-5, Kenadi Arndt 9-11-2

Blocks (aces): Kenadi Arndt 6, Ireland Stassen 6, Emma Bottelberghe 3, Megan Krog 2, Ella Johnson 1, Elivia Faris 1

Digs: Ireland Stassen 40, Lyzah Sussner 29, Grace Hennen 13, Nevaeh Hennen 6, Ella Johnson 6, Dakoda Hennen 5, Abby Rolbiecki 4, Megan Krog 2, Emma Biottelberghe 1, Elivia Faris 1

MAYER LUTHERAN STATISTICS
Serving (good-attempts-aces): Gabby Wachholz 12-14-0, Stella Maass 18-20-1, Madeline Guetzkow 7-10-0, Danica Martin 17-17-0, Izabelle Keaveny 30-32-4, Claire Keaveny 18-20-1

Setting (assists): Madeline Guetzkow 32, Izabelle Keaveny 26, Stella Maass 3, Gabby Wachholz 2, Danica Martin 2, Claire Keaveny 1

Attacks (good-attempts-kills): Marley Martin 19-23-12, Gabby Wachholz 66-74-24, Stella Maass 27-34-9, Madeline Guetzkow 40-47-14, Danica Martin 20-23-6, Amber Hoese 15-18-5, Claire Keaveny 0-1-0

Blocks (aces): Madeline Guetzkow 4, Danica Martin 4, Marley Martin 3, Amber Hoese 2, Stella Maass 1

Digs: Stella Maass 32, Madeline Guetzkow 20, Izabelle Keaveny 18, Gabby Wachholz 14, ClaIre Keaveny 10, Marley Martin 7, Amber Hoese 7, Danica Martin 3