Vikings turn back Wabasso after tough struggler

It looked like a daunting task for the Minneota Vikings volleyball team. Ranked No. 2, they opened against the No. 10- and No. 7-ranked teams. But they survived both, beat Rush City 3-0 and Wabasso, 3-0.

For the first five sets on the court in 2018, Minneota was on cruise control.
They blasted Rush City, 3-0 and had Wabasso in control, 25-7 and 25-12.
Then, suddenly, the Vikings got the kind of fight they expected from Wabasso and it’s 5-11 senior Maddy Guetter, who is bound for Augustana College next year.
Guetter took control of the third game and pounded her team into a 23-23 tie.
Then Lizzy Gillingham brought thunder and lightening down on the Rabbits. She landed a big, strong hit for a 24-23 lead, then put the match away after Morgan Hennen blocked a Guetter shot, with another hit for the 25-23 victory.
Guetter ended with a game-high 19 kills, 17 digs and eight-for-eight at the serving line.
Because senior Sydney Larson is out with illness indefinately, Coach Hayley Fruin had to play with her lineup.
She took Abby Hennen out of the Libero role and gave that to Ellie Pesch. That freed Hennen to roam the field in the middle of the court.
She responded with seven kills, 19 digs, two blocks and 24 of 24 at the serving line, with one ace serve.
“Abby can play anywhere,” chuckled Coach Fruin. “Who would think a Libero could play in the middle,” the coach said.
With Gillingham, Sussner and Hennen leading the way at the net in the first two games, Fruin appreciated Wabasso’s push in the third game.“It’s good to come from behind, for our mental toughness,” she said.
Reflecting on Guetter, the coach said, “They have a good hitter — but early on they couldn’t get her the ball.
Against Wabasso it seemed as though the team missed Sussner when she “rotated” out of the game.
But she came back in blasting away with nine kills. But it was Gillingham who was the most consistent at the net and for the second straight game she led the teamm — this time with 14 kills (11 against Rush City).
“Lydia stepped up and put the ball away for us,” said Coach Fruin.
Minneota is now 2-0 and is off until after Labor Day when they host Central Minnesota Christian on Tuesday, Sept.4.

Minneota 3, Wabasso 0
Minneota   25  25   25
Wabasso   7    12   23
SERVING: (Good, total, aces) Minneota-Abby Hennen 24-24-1; Natalee Rolbiecki 10-10-0; Morgan Kockelman 8-8-0. Wabasso-Maddy Guetter 8-8, and McKenna Nelson 10-10.
KILLS: Minneota-Lizzy Gillingham 14, Lydia sussner 9, Abby Hennen 7; Wabasso-Guetter 19, Nelson and Amanda Hoffman 3 each.
BLOCKS: Minneota-Sussner 3, Abby Hennen 2. Wabasso-Hoffman 6, Jenna Frank 3).
DIGS: Minneota-Natalee Rolbiecki 18; Abby Hennen 19, Kockelman 9. Wabasso-Guetter 17, Megan Rothmeier 15, Halie Huhnerkoch and Frank 8 each).
SET ASSISTS: Minneota-Morgan Kockelman 39; Wabasso-Frank 25.