Hendricks battles, but falls to Vikings in playoffs
Hendricks, a small school with just eight players, but a huge following in the stands, came to Minneota to take on the No. 1-ranked Section 3A North Vikings.
They put on a good show, but couldn’t match the power hitting of the Vikings, losing 3-0. Minneota advanced to the next round with a 25-12; 25-9 and 25-9 win over the Grizzlies.
Hendricks backcourt was superb, digging and saving many of the Vikings best attempts. But they didn’t have the power at the net and Minneota’s contingent of Lydia Sussner, Lizzy Gillingham, Natalee Rolbiecki, Jennifer Krog and Sydney Larson took them to task.
Sussner’s powerful shots to the Hendricks side of the net resulted in 14 kills. Rolbiecki had five, Gillingham and Larson four each and Krog three.
It seemed as though every time a Hennen went to the serving line, it resulted in a string of points.
Abby Hennen served four straight points in the first game, vaulting the Vikings from a 13-7 lead to an uncatchable 17-8 advantage.
Making saving digs to keep the Vikings ahead were Morgan Hennen twice; Morgan Kockelman and once a combined dig by Ellie Pesch and Gillingham.
Abby Hennen came right back in the second game with a string of eight straight serves for points and another large lead, 18-8. Morgan Hennen served five straight points as Sussner worked the net with kills and blocks to earn a 25-9 win.
Game three was an epic display of great serving, power and floor play. Morgan Hennen got the Vikings off to a 10-0 lead, serving all 10 points. Rolbiecki took over at the net with help from Larson and Krog and Kockelman and Krog went to the floor to make dramatic saves.
But the highlight came late in the game when Coach Hayley Fruin inserted freshman Abby Rost in the front row and she responded with a kill for a 23-9 lead — just before the Vikings put the match away.
Minneota will enter the second round of the playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at SMSU in Marshall against Wabasso.
The Rabbits were a 3-0 winner over Yellow Medicine East, winning 25-18; 25-17 amd 25-13.
In the other bracket, Canby defeated Lakeview 3-1. The scores were: 25-11; 25-16; 20-25 and 25-21. The Lancers will play upset winner Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, a 3-1 victor over MACCRAY. The Knights pulled off a 16-25; 25-23; 25-23; 25-20 win.
In Section 3A SOUTH games, it was:
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3, Adrian 0 (25-7; 25-10; 25-8)
Hills-Beaver Creek 3, Southwest MN Christian 2 (28-26; 19-25; 25-20; 16-25; 15-12)
Windom 3, Red Rock Central 0 (25-9; 25-12; 25-20)
Murray County Central 3, Heron Lake-Okabena 2 (25-14; 21-25; 25-16; 21-25; 15-11)
On Tuesday at Worthington, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton will play Hills-Beaver Creek at 6 p.m. with Windom going against Murray County Central at 7:30 p.m.
Hendricks 12 9 9
Minneota 25 25 25