Fruin named Class A Volleyball Coach of Year

Minneota volleyball coach Hayley Fruin, who guided the Vikings to the Class A state title this past fall, has been selected as Class A Coach of the Year.
The Vikings finished 34-3 this season, including a hard-fought 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 19-25, 18-16 victory over Mayer Lutheran in the state championship at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
“Getting state coach of the year is a great recognition, but it isn’t an individual acknowledgement,” Fruin said. “I have two assistants that aren’t getting the credit they deserve. They spend so many hours outside the gym helping our team get better. They are so dedicated to these kids and this program.”
Fruin is referring to assistants Dana Peterson and Emily Citterman.
“Dana and Emily are a great support team and we don’t win state without their knowledge and help,” Fruin added. “Also, this award is only ‘won’ because of the 14 kids I was blessed to have this season. They have such a respect for us coaches and a drive to get better. What more could you want as a coach?”
This is the second time Fruin has won the Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year award, also being selected in 2019.
Fruin has amassed 199 wins in her nine-year career as coach of Lakeview for three seasons and Minneota for the last six.
In her six seasons as coach of Minneota, Fruin’s teams won three state titles, finished second twice, and were favored to win a state title in the 2020 season cut short by the pandemic.
The Vikings’ three losses this season came in shortened tournament sets, meaning they never lost a regular dual match all season. Still, Fruin deflected credit from herself toward the players.
“We had such an open and honest communication and relationship,” she said. “Anything we would tell them individually or as a team, they responded positively to. They played for each other, they respected each other and they celebrated each other. This award is a credit to this team and all the coaches.”