Win over Medford a good way to start the season

“Win or lose, we’ll get better today,” said Viking Coach Hayley Fruin before Minneota kicked off the season at Edina Saturday in the Breakdown Classic. This was a big game for both Minneota and Medford.

They ended the season a year ago with Minneota defeating Medford 3-0 to win the state title. Medford on a match against the Vikings during the summer and in addition to having all their players back, were the recipients of a new player, senior Alyvia Johnson, who came from Owatonna and is headed Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall next fall.

In addition, new middle hitter Abby Frie is from Medford and has friends on the team. Medford was ranked No. 2 in pre-season rankings and Minneota No. 4. Coach Fruin acknowledged this was a good way to start the season. “It will help us know where we are,” she said.

Admitted losing to Medford would still help her young team gain much-needed experience, she leaned in and said, “Don’t get me wrong, I want to win.”

And she chuckled. And Minneota did win — in very formidable fashion, 25-15; 25-15 and 25-18.

Before the game Coach Fruin made a bold prediction. “I expect Morgan (Hennen) to have a great game today,” she said. She made that statement based on the fact Morgan hits hard line shots and last year Medford had trouble handling them.

“She’s hard to read and she had a great state tournament last year. She’s powerful from the right side. People can’t forget about her,” the coach said. Hennen did turn in a solid game at the net and all over the court. She served the ball nine times without an error; had 10 digs in the back court, landed 11 kills and even got a point off a block. Her coaches prediction did, indeed, come true. When asked about the prediction, Coach Fruin laughed and said, “Sometimes I’m right.”

She said she told Morgan before the match, “You’re going to have a great game. I think today is your day.” Hennen acknowledged the coach did give her that confidence boost.

“I felt like I had to step up. The setters did a great job giving me the opportunities,” she said. She didn’t feel the extra pressure of having new setters on the court. “They pulled it together,” she added. Minneota knew this was a big game.

“Both teams are high in the rankings,” Morgan Hennen said. “It was a good game and it was good to win. It was fun to beat them, not just by a little, but by a lot,” she added.

She expected the game to be closer but said, “We were all together today and played like a team.” Minneota used pretty much the same pattern in all three sets against Medford.

They shake off Medford’s early efforts, then jump into a lead and never give it up. They took a 13-8 lead in the first game, went up 17-8 in the second game and 18-10 in the third and final game. Medford only decent attempt to catch up came in the third game when they trailed 20-11 but got within 25-18 before it ended.

Morgan Hennen’s sister Abby, who has been shifted from Libero to a hitting position had 11 kills and Rolbiecki added 11 more. Rolbiecki led the team with 15 digs, Abby Hennen had 13, Ellie Pesch 11, Morgan Hennen 10 and Stassen nine as they used everyone to get the job done in the back court.

Pesch knocked down 17 straight serves without an error as Minneota only missed on two serves all day. Minneota’s best asset all day may have been the fact just about everyone on the Medford side, including hard-hitting Middle hitter Kinsey Cronin had trouble finding a way to land the ball on the Viking side for points.

“The ball were not dropping out there,” Coach Fruin said. She liked the way her team played “loose” and after the first few points, lost any cases of the jitters. “We talked a lot all week and had our game plan. Everyone executed. I like it,” the coach said.

COURT NOTES: •Minneota has its two returning assistants back on the court again this year. Kaley Buysse handles the B squad and Sarah Stassen the C Squad.

The two helped Fruin coach the team to a state title last year. Sarah Stassen is also the mother of freshman setter Ireland Stassen. •Junior Abby Rost, who didn’t see a lot of playing time last year, has stepped up this year and provides some solid minutes off the bench for the Vikings.

•With Abby Hennen moving up to a hitting position, Ellie Pesch is the Vikings’ new Libero.