New regime with new setter
The surroundings are oh, so familiar for Hayley Fruin. She’s come full circle, from being a member of the only Minneota State Volleyball State Championship team in 2006, to being a new mother 14 weeks ago and now she’s the head coach of her Alma mater, the Minneota girls’ volleyball team.
“It’s definitely fun to come home,” she said with a quick smile enveloping her face.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to the season, now that it’s here,” she said. She directed the Lakeview Lakers volleyball team for a couple of seasons, then came back to Minneota as the assistant and B squad coach last year. Now, it’s her turn — and her time on her home court. She’s been pushing her 14 week maternity leave from her day-time employer, Bremer Bank in Marshall. “Today is the last day,” she said on Friday.
Then the smile returned and she explained, “I’ve got an understanding boss at the bank. She’s a volleyball referee so she understands everything.” As for her new baby, Weston ... well, he’s been born into a team filled with babysitters. “The girls will be good babysitters,” she chuckled.
And then there’s always grandpa and grandma, her parents, Mike and Pam Hennen. This is a homecoming for the new coach and nobody seems more excited to give her a present that a group of young players being built around a powerful junior hitter Lydia Sussner.
“They’ve stepped into the gym with tough practices but have no complaints. They know what work is and they are highly competitive,” said Fruin.
The coach knows teams will try and key their defense against Sussner, but that may play into Minneota’s hand, because a nice contingent of hitters will be more than a support team, but an instrument of destruction. The team’s only senior, Jennifer Krog, has shed her past two injury-plagued seasons and is ready to mount an attack at the net. Joining her are junior hitters Lizzy Gillingham and Sydney Larson.
Both got considerable experience last year and will be found manning the net. Then there’s another weapon Fruin hopes to unleash — eighth grader Natalie Rolbiecki.
The tall, lean hitter, who has been playing on the outside this summer in Junior Olympic volleyball, has been thrust into the center of the court along with, and in support of Sussner.
“From watching her, nobody would know she’s an eighth grader,” said the coach. “She’s improved from the first practices to the last. And she’s not timid at all.” And that’s precisely what Fruin likes most about this squad. “It can be any kid on any day ... everyone on the team,” to lead them into battle. With all that power at the net, there has to be someone to get them the ball. Turns out the “setter” position also has gone full circle. Years ago, Taya Kockelman “set” the Vikings into the state, then Megan Larson took over, followed by Charlie Josephson.
And now it’s a Kockelman’s turn once again. Junior Morgan Kockelman is following her sister Taya’s footsteps and hopes to have the same results. “This team is getting to know each other,” said Coach Fruin, and guiding that team on the floor will be Kockelman.
While this is a team filled with fight and desire to succeed, it’s also a team with a heart. At last Thursday’s scrimmage in Minneota, the Vikings played with white shirts with purple lettering in honor of Shirley Sussner, grandmother of Lydia Sussner.
Shirley passed away a couple of weeks ago from cancer and the death took its toll on the whole team. The front of the shirt read, “I wear purple for the hero in my life.” On the back it said, “No one fights alone,” with the words, “Team Sussner” underneath.
When you’re a team and one suffers, all suffer. Under the “Team Sussner” theme, Minneota played seven other teams, and although official scores were not recorded, won all seven matches.
When asked, the team’s new libero, Abby Hennen proclaimed, “We won them all.”
Last Year: A year ago the Vikings drove to the Section 3A Championship game before losing to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 25-19; 25-23 and 25-20. They finished the season with a 25-7 record and they were 10-1 in the Camden Conference.
This Year: They Vikings have a new coach, Hayley Fruin, a young squad with just one senior, but an attitude that they can succeed and can become one of the elite of the area.
There will be stiff competition from the likes of Canby, MACCRAY and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton. But this team is build with power, and could climb toward the top quickly.
They have a new setter, but with a familiar name — Kockelman. Morgan could be the glue that holds this team together.
Assistant Coaches: Kaley Buysse, Sarah Stassen.
Volunteers are Sam Pies and Molly Hennen.
Roster: Seniors: Jennifer Krog.
Juniors: Lydia Sussner; Morgan Kockelman; Brooklyn Nelson; Lizzy Gillingham, Emily Pohlen and Sydney Larson.
Sophomore: Morgan Hennen.
Ninth Graders: Abby Hennen, Ellie Pesch.
Eighth Grader: Natalie Rolbiecki.
Manager: Carolyn Hoffmann.