Vikings to begin state title defense

It all begins again on Saturday when the Minneota Vikings draw the toughest competition and state finals foe Medford at Edina on Saturday. First up at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Breakdown Tournament will be Medford, last year’s state runner-up.

The team Minneota unveiled on Thursday at their own scrimmage was far different from the one that ended the season as the state champion.

Coach Hayley Fruin has moved Abby Hennen to the net, continues to use Natalee Rolbiecki on the outside as a hitter, moves sophomore Abby Frie (who is nearly a dead ringer for Rolbiecki) into the front row when needed and has McKenna Yost setting the ball with freshman Ireland Stassen also doing so setting and hitting at the net.

Morgan Hennen is back and will get her swings at the net with junior Abby Rost looking a lot like an asset in the front row as well.

Madison Sorensen is also a possibility at times. In the back, everyone will be expected to contribute, with Ellie Pesch taking on the Libero roll opened by moving Abby Hennen up to a hitters position.

This team won’t have the smash-mouth hitter in the center they had last year in Lydia Sussner, but they will have more versatility around the net.