Football, volleyball teams ready to roll as season openers near
Two-time defending state champion Minneota hosts Lac qui Parle Valley in the 2020 season opener on Thursday, Oct. 8, while the Vikings' football team travels to Maynard for its opener on Friday, Oct. 9 against MACCRAY.
The volleyball team currently has 11 scheduled Camden Conference matches this season with the possibility of one more match being added. There will be no regular-season tournaments this season.
The volleyball season will be 11 weeks long, including practices, beginning on Sept. 28. Member schools could not play its first match before Oct. 8.
In the framework that was approved by the Minnesota State High School League board of directors, two weeks of postseason play would begin the week of Nov. 30.
MSHSL member schools have had the option of having its volleyball and football teams participate in voluntary training sessions since Sept. 14.
Football teams will play a scaled down six-game regular season instead of the traditional eight games. Teams could begin playing their first game the week of Oct. 5.
A planned two-week football postseason will begin the week of Nov. 16.
A survey by the high school league asking its 500 member schools on when football and volleyball should be played drew 394 responses, with 80 percent favoring fall football and 76 percent supporting fall volleyball.Initially, the board approved postponing football and volleyball until March. But on Sept. 16, as many athletes, parents, coaches and administrators urged the MSHSL to reconsider, a special meeting was called by MSHSL Board of Directors President Blaine Novak.
The MSHSL board of directors voted 15-3 to begin football and 14-4 to allow volleyball to resume. The plan for each sport fits within COVID-19 guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The decision came despite the state continuing to see high numbers of positive COVID-19 tests. However, the state’s rate of hospital admissions has dropped to its lowest level in two months.
The Minneota football team will have three home games and three road games. The volleyball team currently has six home matches and five away matches on its schedule.
Minneota 2020 football schedule
Friday, Oct. 9 at MACCRAY
Thursday, Oct. 15 at Canby
Friday, Oct. 23 home vs. Yellow Medicine East
Friday, Oct. 30 at Lakeview (Cottonwood)
Friday, Nov. 6 home vs, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton
Thursday, Nov. 12 home vs. Dawson-Boyd
Minneota 2020 volleyball schedule
Thursday, Oct. 8 home vs. Lac qui Parle Valley
Monday, Oct. 12 home vs. Renville County West
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at MACCRAY (Clara City)
Tuesday, Oct. 20 at CMCS (Prinsburg)
Thursday, Oct. 22 home vs. Dawson-Boyd
Tuesday, Oct. 27 at KMS (Kerkhoven)
Thursday, Oct. 29 at YME (Granite Falls)
Thursday, Nov. 5 at RTR (Tyler)
Tuesday, Nov. 10 home vs Ttracy-Milroy-Balaton
Friday, Nov. 13 home vs Canby
Monday, Nov. 16 home vs. Lakeview