New era in Viking volleyball

Hayley Fruin paces the gymnasium floor like a field general looking over her troops. There were so many girls reporting for practice Monday she had to call in the reserves to help control the crowd.

Fruin went directly to the Hennen family, bringing in former players Samantha (Hennen) Hammer, Kelsey (Hennen) Buysse and Molly Hennen, plus others to help with the seven through 12 crowd.

Her regular staff of Kaley Buysse and others were also there. For Fruin, this isn’t her first round-up. She was previously the Lakeview head coach and played for Minneota’s only state volleyball championship team.

And last year she was the assistant coach. But now, she’s in charge. It’s going to take a little while to sort out the madness with that many girls, but the time is short before the opener on Saturday, August 26 at Hopkins.

They will vault right into the annual Monday game at Ridgewater College in Willmar against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa at 5:30 p.m. The team has a scrimmage today (Thursday), at home with the likes of Canby, Central Minnesota Christian, Luverne, Pipestone Area and Worthington.

So after that event, Fruin and her staff should have a better idea of where they stand in connection with the upcoming 2017 volleyball season.

Meanwhile, the new general will continue to direct her troops.